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Courtesy  of   the  New  York  State  M 


Plate  76 


PINE   GROSBEAK     Piriicola  enucltalur  Itucitra  CSlMeT) 


PURPLE    FINCH     Carpodacus  purpureus   purpurrus  (Gmelin  I 
AUSual.size 


Birds  of  America 


Editor-in-Chief 
T.  Gilbert  Pearson 

President  of  the  National  Association  of  Audubon  Societies 


^..in) 


Consulting  Editor 
Joiin  Burrouglis 

Contributing  Editors 
Edward  H.   Forbush  Herbert  K.  Job 

State  Ornithologist,  Massachusetts  Economic  Ornithologist 


William  L.  Finley 

Naturalist,  Author,  and  Lecturer 

Managing  Editor 
George  Gladden 


L.  Nelson  Nichols 

Member  Linn£can  Society 

Associate  Editor 
J.  Ellis  Burdick 

Associate  Member  of  Amcricar 
Ornithologists'  Union 


Artists 
R.   I.    Brasher         R.    Bruce  Horsfall         Henry  Thurston 


•.<^^lfr^ 


VOLUME 


THREE 


The  University  Society  Inc. 

New  York 
1923 


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^      / 


I.' I/}:; 

Vf;uu:ii; . I  a;,' Id  All ., 


Copyright.  1917.  by 
The  University  Society  Inc. 


Manufactured  in  the  U.  S    A. 


CONTENTS 


Bird  Migration     .... 
Order  of  Perching  Birds,  Continued 

Finches 

Tanagers 

Swallows 

Waxwings  and  Silky  Flycatchers 

Shrikes 

Vireos     .... 

Warblers 

Wagtails  and  Pipits 

Dippers 

Mimic  Thrushes 

Wrens     .... 

Nuthatches  and  Creepers 

Titmice 

Wren-Tits 

Kinglets  and  Gnatcatchers 

Thrushes 
Color  Keys 

Glossary        .... 
Bibliography 
Index     ..... 


77 
82 

93 

98 

102 

1 1 1 


174 
186 
199 
206 
218 
219 
224 
247 
2S7 
263 
267 


liii] 


BIRD    MIGRATION 

By  Wells  W.  Cdoke 


HE  mystery  of  bird  migration  has  proved  a  fascinating  subject  for  speculation 
and  study  from  earliest  times.  Long  ago  it  was  noticed  that  birds  disappeared 
in  fall  and  reappeared  in  spring,  but,  not  knowing  where  they  spent  the 
intervening  period,  many  fanciful  theories  were  advanced  to  account  for 
their  disappearance,  as  hibernation  in  hollow  trees  or  in  the  mud  of  streams 
or  ponds.  With  later  years,  however,  has  come  a  fuller  knowledge  of  migra- 
tion, especially  of  the  particular  region  in  which  each  species  passes  the  cold 
season,  and  more  definite  information  in  regard  to  the  routes  followed  in 
the  spring  and  fall  journeys.  But  fuller  knowledge  has  served  to  increase 
rather  than  to  lessen  interest  in  the  subject.  More  persons  to-day  are 
watching  birds  and  noting  their  times  of  arrival  and  departure  than  ever  before. 

A  knowledge  of  the  times  of  migration  of  birds  is  essential  as  a  basis  for  intelligent 
study  of  their  economic  relations  and  is  equally  necessary  in  formulating  jjroper  legislation 
for  bird  protection  —  two  subjects  which  form  important  parts  of  the  work  of  the  United 
States  Biological  Survey. 

For  more  than  2,000  years  the  phenomena  of  bird  migration  have  been  noted;  but 
while  the  extent  and  course  of  the  routes  traversed  have  of  late  become  better  known,  no 
conclusive  answer  has  been  found  to  the  question.  Why  do  North  American  birds  migrate? 
Two  different  and  indeed  diametrically  opposite  theories  have  been  advanced  to  account 
for  the  beginnings  of  these  migrations. 

According  to  the  more  commonly  accepted  theory,  ages  ago  the  United  States  and 
Canada  swarmed  with  non-migratory  bird  life,  long  before  the  Arctic  ice  fields  advancing 
south  during  the  glacial  era  rendered  uninhabitable  the  northern  half  of  the  continent.  The 
birds'  love  of  home  influenced  them  to  remain  near  the  nesting  site  until  the  approaching 
ice  began  for  the  first  time  to  produce  a  winter  —  that  is,  a  period  of  inclement  weather 
which  so  reduced  the  food  supply  as  to  compel  the  birds  to  move  or  to  starve.  As  the  ice 
approached  very  gradually,  now  and  then  receding,  these  enforced  retreats  and  absences  — 
at  first  only  a  short  distance  and  for  a  brief  time  —  increased  both  in  distance  and  in  dura- 
tion until  migration  became  an  integral  part  of  the  very  being  of  the  bird.  In  other  words, 
the  formation  of  the  habit  of  migration  took  place  at  the  same  time  that  changing  seasons 
in  the  year  replaced  the  continuous  semi-tropical  conditions  of  the  preglacial  eras. 

As  the  ice  advanced  southward  the  swing  to  the  north  in  the  spring  migration  was  con- 
tinually shortened  and  the  fall  retreat  to  a  suitable  winter  home  correspondingly  lengthened, 
until  during  the  height  of  the  glacial  period  birds  were  for  the  most  part  confined  to  Middle 
and  South  America.  But  the  habit  of  migration  had  been  formed,  and  when  the  ice  receded 
toward  its  present  position  the  birds  followed  it  northward  and  in  time  established  their 
present  long  and  diversified  migration  routes. 

Those  who  thus  argue  that  love  of  birthplace  is  the  actuating  impulse  to  spring  migra- 
tion call  attention  to  the  seeming  impatience  of  the  earliest  migrants.  Ducks  and  Geese 
push  northward  with  the  beginnings  of  open  water  so  early,  so  far,  and  so  fast  that  many 
are  caught  by  late  storms  and  wander  disconsolately  over  frozen  ponds  and  rivers,  prefer- 


vi  BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 

ring  to  risk  starvation  rather  than  to  retreat.  The  Purple  Martins  often  arrive  at  their 
nesting  boxes  so  prematurely  that  the  cozy  home  becomes  a  tomb  if  a  sleet  storm  sweeps 
their  winged  food  from  the  air.  The  Bluebird's  cheery  warble  we  welcome  as  a  harbinger 
of  spring,  often  only  to  find  later  a  lifeless  body  in  some  shed  or  outbuilding  where  the  bird 
sought  shelter  rather  than  return  to  the  sunny  land  so  recently  left. 

As  a  matter  of  fact,  however,  only  a  small  percentage  of  birds  exhibit  these  pre-seasonal 
migration  propensities.  The  great  majority  remain  in  the  security  of  their  winter  homes 
until  spring  is  so  far  advanced  that  the  journey  can  be  made  easily  and  with  comparatively 
slight  danger;  and  they  reach  the  nesting  spot  when  a  food  supply  is  assured  and  all  the 
conditions  of  weather  and  vegetation  are  favorable  for  beginning  immediately  the  rearing 
of  a  family  of  young. 

If,  however,  a  longing  for  home  is  considered  the  main  incentive  to  their  northward 
flight,  there  arises  the  question  as  to  why  birds  desert  that  home  so  promptly  after  the  nesting 
season  is  over.  Indeed,  most  birds  start  south  as  soon  as  the  fledglings  are  able  to  shift  for 
themselves.  The  Orchard  Oriole,  the  Redstart,  and  the  Yellow  Warbler  of  central  United 
States  and  the  Nonpareil  of  the  south  all  begin  their  southward  journey  early  in  July,  long 
before  the  fall  storms  sound  a  warning  of  approaching  winter  and  when  their  insect  menu 
is  particularly  varied  and  abundant. 

According  to  the  opposite  migration  theory,  the  birds'  real  home  is  the  Southland;  all 
bird  life  tends  by  over-production  to  over-crowding;  and,  at  the  end  of  the  glacial  era,  the 
birds,  seeking  in  all  directions  for  suitable  breeding  grounds  with  less  keen  competition  than 
in  their  tropical  winter  home,  gradually  worked  northward  as  the  retreat  of  the  ice  made 
habitable  vast  reaches  of  virgin  country.  But  the  winter  abiding  place  was  still  the  home, 
and  to  this  they  returned  as  soon  as  the  breeding  season  was  over.  Thus,  in  the  case  of  the 
Orchard  Oriole  mentioned  above,  many  individuals  that  arrive  in  southern  Pennsylvania 
the  first  week  in  May  leave  by  the  middle  of  July,  spending  only  25  months  out  of  the  12 
at  the  nesting  site. 

Whichever  theory  is  accepted,  the  beginnings  of  migration  ages  ago  undoubtedly  were 
intimately  connected  with  periodic  changes  in  the  food  supply.  While  North  America 
possesses  enormous  summer  supplies  of  bird  food,  the  birds  must  return  south  for  the  winter 
or  perish.  The  over-crowding  which  would  necessarily  ensue  should  they  remain  in  the 
equatorial  regions  is  prevented  by  the  spring  exodus  northward.  No  such  movement  occurs 
toward  the  corresponding  southern  latitudes.  .South  America  has  almost  no  migratory  land 
birds,  for  bleak  Patagonia  and  Tierra  del  Fuego  offer  no  inducements  to  these  dwellers  of 
the  limitless  forests  of  the  Amazon. 

The  conclusion  is  inevitable  that  the  advantages  of  the  United  States  and  Canada  as 
a  summer  home  and  the  superb  conditions  of  climate  and  food  for  the  successful  rearing  of 
a  nestful  of  voracious  young  far  over-balance  the  hazards  and  disasters  of  the  journey  thither. 
For  these  periodical  trips  did  not  just  happen  in  their  present  form;  each  migration  route, 
however  long  and  complex,  is  but  the  present  stage  in  development  of  a  flight  that  at  first 
was  short,  easily  accomplished,  and  comparatively  free  from  danger.  Each  lengthening  of 
the  course  was  adopted  permanently  only  after  experience  through  many  generations  had 
proved  its  advantages. 

It  may  safely  be  stated  that  the  weather  in  the  winter  home  has  nothing  to  do  with 
starting  birds  on  the  spring  migration,  except  in  the  case  of  a  few,  like  some  of  the  Ducks 
and  Geese,  which  press  northward  as  fast  as  open  water  appears.  There  is  no  appreciable 
change  in  temperature  to  warn  the  hundred  or  more  species  of  our  birds  which  visit  South 
America  in  winter  that  it  is  time  to  migrate.  It  must  be  a  force  from  within,  a  physiological 
change  warning  them  of  the  approach  of  the  breeding  season,  that  impels  them  to  spread 
their  wings  for  the  long  flight. 

The  habit  of  migration  has  been  evolved  through  countless  generations,  and  during  this 
time  the  physical  structure  and  habits  of  birds  have  been  undergoing  a  process  of  evolution 


Eggs  of  American  Birds 


PLATE  No.  4 

1.  Cedar  Waxwing 

2.  Red-eyed  Vireo 

3.  White-eyed  Vireo 

4.  Warbling  Vireo 

5.  Phainopepla 

6.  Blue-headed  Vireo 

7.  Bell's  Vireo 

8.  Black  and  White  Warbler 

9.  Prothonotary  Warbler 

10.  Worm-eating  Warbler 

11.  Blue-winged  Warbler 

12.  Oranged-crov/ned  Warbler 

13.  Parula  Warbler 

14.  Magnolia  Warbler 

15.  Yellow  Warbler 

16.  Water-Thrush 

17.  Yellow-throated  Warbler 

18.  Prairie  Warbler 

19.  Maryland  Yellow-throat 

20.  Oven-bird 

21.  Yellow-breasted  Chat 

22.  Chestnut-sided  Warbler 

23.  Hooded  Warbler 

24.  Redstart 

25.  Pipit 


# 


16 


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BIRD    iMIGRATION  vii 

in  adaptation  to  the  climate  of  the  summer  home.  In  spring  and  early  summer  climatic  con- 
ditions are  decidedly  variable,  and  yet  there  must  be  some  period  that  has  on  the  average 
the  best  weather  for  the  birds'  arrival.  In  the  course  of  ages  there  have  been  developed 
habits  of  migration,  under  the  influence  of  which  the  bird  so  performs  its  migratory  move- 
ments that  on  the  average  it  arrives  at  the  nesting  site  at  the  proper  time. 

The  word  "  average  "  needs  to  be  emphasized.  It  is  the  average  weather  at  a  given 
locality  that  determines  the  average  time  of  the  bird's  arrival.  In  obedience  to  physiologic 
promptings  the  bird  migrates  at  the  usual  average  time  and  proceeds  northward  at  the 
usual  average  speed  unless  prevented  by  adverse  weather.  Weather  conditions  are  not  the 
cause  of  the  migration  of  birds;  but  the  weather,  by  affecting  the  food  supply,  is  the  chief 
factor  which  determines  the  average  date  of  arrival  at  the  breeding  grounds.  After  the  bird, 
in  response  to  physiological  changes,  has  started  to  migrate,  the  weather  it  encounters  en 
route  influences  that  migration  in  a  subordinate  way,  retarding  or  accelerating  the  advance 
by  only  a  few  days,  and  having  usually  only  slight  effect  upon  the  date  of  arrival  at  the 
nesting  site. 

Local  weather  conditions  on  the  day  of  arrival  at  any  stated  locality  are  minor  factors 
in  determining  the  appearance  of  a  given  species  at  that  place  and  time.  The  major  factors 
in  the  problem  are  the  weather  conditions  far  to  the  southward,  where  the  night's  flight 
began,  and  the  relation  which  that  place  and  time  bear  to  the  average  position  of  the  bird 
under  normal  weather  conditions.  Many,  if  not  most,  instances  of  arrivals  of  birds  under 
adverse  weather  conditions  are  probably  explainable  by  the  supposition  that  the  flight  was 
begun  under  favorable  auspices  and  that  later  the  weather  changed.  Migration  in  spring 
usually  occurs  with  a  rising  temperature  and  in  autumn  with  a  falling  temperature.  In  each 
case  the  changing  temperature  seems  to  be  a  more  potent  factor  than  the  absolute  degree 
of  cold. 

The  direction  and  force  of  the  winds,  except  as  they  are  occasionally  intimately  con- 
nected with  sudden  and  extreme  variations  in  temperature,  seem  to  have  only  a  slight  influence 
on  migration. 

Some  birds  migrate  by  day,  but  most  of  them  seek  the  cover  of  darkness.  Day  migrants 
include  Ducks  and  Geese  (which  also  migrate  by  night).  Hawks,  Swallows,  the  Nighthawk, 
and  the  Chimney  Swift.  The  last  two,  combining  business  and  pleasure,  catch  their  morning 
or  evening  meal  during  a  zigzag  flight  that  tends  in  the  desired  direction.  The  daily  advance 
of  such  migrants  covers  only  a  few  miles,  and  when  a  large  body  of  water  is  encountered 
they  pass  around  rather  than  across  it.  The  night  migrants  include  all  the  great  family 
of  Warblers,  the  Thrushes,  Flycatchers,  Vireos,  Orioles,  Tanagers,  shore  birds,  and  most 
of  the  Sparrows.  They  usually  begin  their  flight  soon  after  dark  and  end  it  before  dawn, 
and  go  farther  before  than  after  midnight. 

Night  migration  probably  results  in  more  casualties  from  natural  causes  than  would 
occur  if  the  birds  made  the  same  journey  by  day;  but,  on  the  other  hand,  there  is  a  decided 
gain  in  the  matter  of  food  supply.  For  instance,  a  bird  feeds  all  day  on  the  north  shore  of 
the  Gulf  of  Mexico;  if,  then,  it  waited  until  the  next  morning  to  make  its  flight  across  the 
Gulf  in  the  daytime  it  would  arrive  on  the  Mexican  coast  at  nightfall  and  would  have  to 
wait  until  the  following  morning  to  appease  its  hunger.  Thus  there  would  be  36  consecutive 
hours  without  food,  whereas  by  night  migration  the  same  journey  can  be  performed  with 
only  a  12  hours'  fast. 

Migrating  birds  do  not  fly  at  their  fastest.  Their  migration  speed  is  usually  from  30  to 
40  miles  an  hour  and  rarely  exceeds  50.  Flights  of  a  few  hours  at  night,  alternating  with  rests 
of  one  or  more  days,  make  the  spring  advance  very  slow,  averaging  for  all  species  not  more 
than  23  miles  a  day,  but  with  great  variations  of  daily  rate  among  the  different  species. 
The  exact  number  of  miles  which  a  particular  bird  makes  during  one  day's  journey  has  not 
yet  been  determined,  and  cannot  be  ascertained  until  the  tagging  or  banding  of  birds  by 
means  of  metal  rings  is  carried  out  on  a  far  more  extensive  scale  than  has  yet  been  possible. 


viii  BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 

If  migration  were  a  steady  movement  northward  with  the  same  individuals  always  in  the 
van,  numerous  careful  observations  might  make  it  possible  to  approximate  the  truth;  but 
instead  of  this,  most  migrations  are  performed  somewhat  after  the  manner  of  a  game  of 
leap-frog.  The  van  in  spring  migration  is  composed  chiefly  of  old  birds,  and  as  they  reach 
their  nesting  places  of  the  previous  year  they  remain  to  breed.  Thus  the  vanguard  is  con- 
stantly dropping  out  and  the  forward  movement  must  depend  upon  the  arrival  of  the  next 
corps,  which  may  be  near  at  hand  or  far  in  the  rear.  Moreover,  in  our  present  state  of  knowl- 
edge we  can  not  say  whether  a  given  group  of  birds  after  a  night's  migration  keeps  in  the 
van  on  succeeding  nights  or  rests  and  feeds  for  several  days  and  allows  other  groups  pre- 
viously in  the  rear  to  assume  the  lead.  It  is  known  that  birds  do  not  as  a  rule  move  rapidly 
when  migrating  in  the  daytime,  but  from  the  meagre  data  available  it  may  be  inferred  that 
the  speed  at  night  is  considerably  greater.  During  day  migration  the  smaller  land  birds 
rarely  fly  faster  than  20  miles  an  hour,  though  the  larger  birds,  as  Cranes,  Geese,  and  Ducks 
move  somewhat  more  rapidly.  The  result  of  timing  Nighthawks  on  several  occasions  gave 
a  rate  of  10  to  14  miles  an  hour,  the  former  being  the  more  usual  speed.  This  slow  rate  results 
from  the  irregularity  of  the  flight,  caused  by  the  birds'  capturing  their  evening  and  morning 
meals  en  route.  In  the  evening  the  flight  lasted  about  an  hour  and  a  half  and  in  the  morning 
about  an  hour.  Thus  a  distance  of  approximately  j,o  miles  would  be  traveled  by  each  indi- 
vidual during  the  morning  and  evening  flights. 

Night  migrants  probably  average  longer  distances  in  most  of  their  flights,  and  this  is 
known  to  be  the  case  with  some  species.  The  Purple  Martin,  during  the  spring  of  1884, 
performed  almost  its  entire  migration  from  New  Orleans  to  Lake  Winnipeg  during  only  12 
nights  —  an  average  of  120  miles  for  each  night  of  movement  —  and  some  late  migrants, 
like  the  Gray-cheeked  Thrush,  must  make  still  greater  distances  at  a  single  flight.  That 
most  of  them  can  fly  several  hundred  miles  without  stopping  is  proved  by  the  fact  that  they 
make  flights  of  500  to  700  miles  across  the  Gulf  of  Mexico. 

The  length  of  the  migration  journey  varies  enormously.  A  few  birds,  like  the  Grouse, 
Quail,  Cardinal,  and  Carolina  Wren,  are  non-migrator>'.  Many  a  Bobwhite  rounds  out  its 
full  period  of  existence  without  ever  going  10  miles  from  the  nest  where  it  was  hatched. 
Some  other  species  migrate  so  short  a  distance  that  the  movement  is  scarcely  noticeable. 
Thus,  Meadowlarks  are  found  near  New  York  City  all  the  year,  but  probably  the  individuals 
nesting  in  that  region  pass  a  little  farther  south  for  the  winter  and  their  places  are  taken  by 
migrants  from  farther  north.  Or  part  of  a  species  may  migrate  and  the  rest  remain  sta- 
tionary, as  in  the  case  of  the  Pine  Warbler  and  the  Black-headed  Grosbeak,  which  do  not 
venture  in  winter  south  of  the  breeding  range.  With  them  fall  migration  is  only  a  with- 
drawal from  the  northern  and  a  concentration  in  the  southern  part  of  the  summer  home  — 
the  Warbler  in  about  a  fourth  and  the  Grosbeak  in  less  than  an  eighth  of  the  summer  area. 
In  the  case  of  the  Maryland  Yellow-throat,  the  breeding  birds  of  Florida  are  strictly  non- 
migratory,  while  in  spring  and  fall  other  Yellow-throats  pass  through  Florida  in  their  journeys 
between  their  winter  home  in  Cuba  and  their  summer  home  in  New  England. 

Another  variation  is  illustrated  by  the  Robin,  which  occurs  in  the  middle  districts  of 
the  United  States  throughout  the  year,  in  Canada  only  in  summer,  and  along  the  Gulf  of 
Mexico  only  in  winter.  Probably  no  individual  Robin  is  a  continuous  resident  in  any  sec- 
tion; but  the  Robin  that  nests,  let  us  say,  in  southern  Missouri,  spends  the  winter  near  the 
Gulf,  while  his  hardy  Canada-bred  cousin  is  the  winter  tenant  of  the  abandoned  summer 
home  of  the  southern  bird. 

Most  migratory  birds  desert  the  entire  region  occupied  in  summer  for  some  other  dis- 
trict adopted  as  a  winter  home.  These  two  homes  are  separated  by  very  variable  distances. 
Many  species  from  Canada  winter  in  the  United  States,  as  the  Tree  Sparrow,  Junco,  and 
Snow  Bunting;  others  nesting  in  northern  United  States  winter  in  the  Gulf  States,  as  the 
Chipping,  Field,  Savannah,  and  Vesper  Sparrows,  while  more  than  a  hundred  species  leave 
the  United  States  for  the  winter  and  spend  that  season  in  Central  or  even  in  South  America. 


BIRD    MIGRATION  ix 

Nor  are  they  content  with  journeying  to  northern  South  America,  but  many  cross  the 
Equator  and  pass  on  to  the  pampas  of  Argentina  and  a  few  even  to  Patagonia.  Among 
these  long-distance  migrants  are  some  of  our  commonest  birds;  the  Scarlet  Tanager  migrates 
from  Canada  to  Peru;  the  Bobolinks  that  nest  in  New  England  probably  winter  in  Brazil, 
as  do  Purple  Martins,  Cliff  Sparrows,  Barn  Sparrows,  Nighthawks,  and  some  Thrushes, 
which  are  their  companions  both  summer  and  winter.  The  Black-poll  Warblers  that  nest 
in  Alaska  winter  in  northern  South  America,  at  least  5,000  miles  from  the  summer  home. 
The  land  bird  with  the  longest  migration  route  is  probably  the  Nighthawk,  which  occurs 
north  to  Yukon  and  south  7,000  miles  away,  to  Argentina. 

But  even  these  distances  are  surpassed  by  some  of  the  water  birds,  and  notably  by  some 
of  the  shorebirds,  which  as  a  group  have  the  longest  migration  routes  of  any  birds.  Nine- 
teen species  of  shorebirds  breed  north  of  the  Arctic  Circle,  every  one  of  which  visits  South 
America  in  winter,  six  of  them  penetrating  to  Patagonia,  a  migration  route  more  than  8,000 
miles  in  length.     The  world's  migration  champion,  however,  is  the  Arctic  Tern. 

The  shape  of  the  land  areas  in  the  northern  half  of  the  Western  Hemisphere  and  the 
nature  of  the  surface  has  tended  to  great  variations  in  migratory  movements.  If  the  whole 
area  from  Brazil  to  Canada  were  a  plain  with  the  general  characteristics  of  the  middle  section 
of  the  Mississippi  Valley,  the  study  of  bird  migration  would  lose  much  of  its  fascination. 
There  would  be  a  simple  rhythmical  swinging  of  the  migration  pendulum  back  and  forth, 
spring  and  fall.  But  much  of  the  earth's  surface  between  Brazil  and  Canada  is  occupied  by 
the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  the  Caribbean  Sea,  and  parts  of   the   Atlantic   Ocean,    all    devoid   of 


Most  migrants  use  n 
traverse  the  mo 
along  route  No. 


l^jurtL-sy  of  U.  S.  Uept.  of  Agriculture 

PRINCIPAL  MIGRATION  ROUTES  OF  NORTH  AMERICA 

ute  No.  4.  though  this  necessitates  a  flight  of  500  to  700  miles  across  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  A  few 
re  direct  route  No.  ,i,  and  still  fewer,  route  No.  2.  Only  water  birds  make  the  2,400-nule  flight 
I,  from  Nova  Scotia  to  South  America. 


X  BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 

sustenance  for  land  birds.  The  two  areas  of  abundant  food  supply  are  North  America  and 
northern  South  America,  separated  by  the  comparatively  small  areas  of  Mexico  and  Central 
America,  the  islands  of  the  West  Indies,  and  the  great  waste  stretches  of  water. 

The  different  courses  taken  by  the  birds  to  get  around  or  over  this  intervening  inhos- 
pitable region  are  almost  as  numerous  as  the  bird  families  that  traverse  them,  and  only  some 
of  the  more  important  routes  will  be  mentioned  here. 

Birds  often  seem  eccentric  in  choice  of  route,  and  many  do  not  take  the  shortest  line. 
The  so  species  from  New  England  that  winter  in  South  America,  instead  of  making  the 
direct  trip  over  the  Atlantic  involving  a  flight  of  2,000  miles,  take  a  somewhat  longer  route 
that  follows  the  coast  to  Florida  and  passes  thence  by  island  or  mainland  to  South  America. 
What  would  at  first  sight  seem  to  be  a  natural  and  convenient  migratory  highway  extends 
from  Florida  through  the  Bahamas  or  Cuba  to  Haiti,  Porto  Rico,  and  the  Lesser  Antilles 
and  thence  to  South  America.  Birds  that  travel  by  this  route  need  never  be  out  of  sight 
of  land;  resting  places  are  afforded  at  convenient  intervals  and  the  distance  is  but  little 
longer  than  the  water  route.  Yet  beyond  Cuba  this  highway  is  little  used.  About  25  species 
continue  as  far  as  Porto  Rico  and  remain  there  through  the  winter.  Only  adventurers  of 
some  six  species  gain  the  South  American  mainland  by  completing  the  island  chain.  The 
reason  is  not  far  to  seek  —  scarcity  of  food.  The  total  area  of  all  the  West  Indies  east  of 
Porto  Rico  is  a  little  less  than  that  of  Rhode  Island.  Should  a  small  proportion  only  of  the 
feathered  inhabitants  of  the  eastern  States  select  this  route,  not  even  the  luxuriant  fauna 
and  flora  of  the  tropics  could  supply  their  needs. 

A  still  more  direct  route,  but  one  requiring  longer  single  flights,  stretches  from  Florida 
to  South  America,  via  Cuba  and  Jamaica.  The  150  miles  between  Florida  and  Cuba  are 
crossed  by  tens  of  thousands  of  birds  of  some  60  different  species.  About  half  the  species 
take  the  next  flight  of  go  miles  to  the  Jamaican  mountains.  Here  a  500-mile  stretch  of 
islandless  ocean  confronts  them,  and  scarcely  a  third  of  their  number  leave  the  forest-clad 
hills  for  the  unseen  beyond.  Chief  among  these  is  the  Bobolink.  With  the  Bobolink  is  an 
incongruous  company  of  traveling  companions  —  a  Vireo,  a  Kingbird,  and  a  Nighthawk 
that  summer  in  Florida;  the  Chuck-will's-widow  of  the  Gulf  States;  the  two  New  England 
Cuckoos;  the  Gray-cheeked  Thrush  from  Quebec;  the  Bank  Swallow  from  Labrador;  and 
the  Black-poll  Warbler  from  far-ofl  Alaska. 

The  main-traveled  highway  is  that  which  stretches  from  northwestern  Florida  across 
the  Gulf,  continuing  the  southwesterly  direction  which  most  of  the  birds  of  the  Atlantic 
coast  follow  in  journeying  to  Florida.  A  larger  or  smaller  percentage  of  nearly  all  the  species 
bound  for  South  America  take  this  roundabout  course,  quite  regardless  of  the  several-hun- 
dred-mile flight  over  the  Gulf  of  Mexico. 

The  birds  east  of  the  Allegheny  Mountains  move  southwest  in  the  fall,  approximately 
parallel  with  the  seacoast,  and  apparently  keep  this  same  direction  across  the  Gulf  to  eastern 
Mexico.  The  birds  of  the  central  Mississippi  Valley  go  southward  to  and  over  the  Gulf. 
The  birds  between  the  Missouri  and  the  edge  of  the  plains  and  those  of  Canada  east  of  the 
Rocky  Mountains  move  southeastward  and  south  until  they  join  the  others  in  their  passage 
of  the  Gulf.  In  other  words,  the  great  majority  of  North  American  birds  bound  for  a  winter's 
sojourn  in  Central  or  South  America  elect  a  short  cut  across  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  in  preference 
to  a  longer  land  journey  by  way  of  Florida  or  Texas.  In  fact,  millions  of  birds  cross  the  Gulf 
at  its  widest  part,  which  necessitates  a  single  flight  of  500  to  700  miles.  It  might  seem  more 
natural  for  the  birds  to  make  a  leisurely  trip  along  the  Florida  coast,  take  a  short  flight  to 
Cuba,  and  thence  a  still  shorter  one  of  less  than  100  miles  to  Yucatan  —  a  route  only  a  little 
longer  and  involving  much  less  exposure.  Indeed,  the  earlier  naturalists,  finding  the  same 
species  both  in  Florida  and  in  Yucatan,  took  this  probable  route  for  granted,  and  for  years 
it  has  been  noted  in  ornithological  literature  as  one  of  the  principal  migration  highways  of 
North  American  birds.  As  a  fact,  it  is  almost  deserted  except  for  a  few  Swallows,  some  shore 
birds,  and  an  occasional  land  bird  storm  driven  from  its  accustomed  course,  while  over  the 


Eggs  of  American  Birds 


PLATE  No.  5 

1.  Long-billed  Marsh  Wren 

2.  Chickadee 

3.  Bush-Tit 

4.  Brown-headed  Nuthatch 

5.  House  Wren 

6.  Sharp-tailed  Sparrow 

7.  Bank  Swallow 

8.  Golden-crowned   Kinglet 
Q.  Barn  Swallow 

10.  Song  Sparrow 

11.  Rose-breasted  Grosbeak 

12.  Bluebird 

13.  Blue-gray  Gnatcatcher 

14.  White-breasted  Nuthatch 

15.  Wood  Thrush 
i5.  Abert's  Towhee 

17.  Bendire's  Thrasher 

18.  Olive-backed  Thrush 

19.  Blue  Grosbeak 

20.  Cardinal 

21.  Mockingbird 

22.  Catbird 

23.  Brov/n  Thrasher 

24.  Robin 

25.  California  Thrasher 


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;->om  a    ilravju:^   by  IJciiry   37, 


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EGGS   OF    AMERICAN    iSIRDS 
(Plate   Number   Five) 


BIRD    MIGRATION  xi 

Gulf  route  night  after  night  for  nearly  eight  months  in  the  year  myriads  of  hardy  migrants 
wing  their  way  through  the  darkness  toward  an  unseen  destination. 

To  the  w^estward  a  short  route  stretches  a  few  hundred  miles  from  the  coast  of  Texas 
to  northern  Vera  Cruz.  It  is  adopted  by  some  Warblers,  as  the  Kentucky,  the  Worm-eating, 
and  the  Golden-winged,  and  a  few  other  species,  which  seek  in  this  way  to  avoid  a  region 
scantily  supplied  with  moist  woodlands. 

Still  farther  west  are  two  routes  which  represent  the  land  journeys  of  those  birds  from 
western  United  States  that  winter  in  Mexico  and  Central  America.  Their  trips  are  com- 
paratively short ;  most  of  the  birds  are  content  to  stop  when  they  reach  the  middle  districts 
of  Mexico  and  only  a  few  pass  east  of  the  southern  part  of  that  country. 

Still  another  route  is  one  which  extends  in  an  approximately  north  and  south  line  from 
Nova  Scotia  to  the  Lesser  Antilles  and  the  northern  coast  of  South  America.  Though  more 
than  a  thousand  miles  shorter  than  the  main  migration  route,  it  is  not  employed  by  any  land 
bird.  But  it  is  a  favorite  fall  route  for  thousands  of  water  birds,  notable  among  which  is 
the  Golden  Plover. 

All  Black-poll  Warblers  winter  in  South  America.  Those  that  are  to  nest  in  Alaska 
strike  straight  across  the  Caribbean  Sea  to  Florida  and  northwestward  to  the  Mississippi 
River.  Then  the  direction  changes  and  a  course  is  laid  almost  due  north  to  northern  Minne- 
sota in  order  to  avoid  the  treeless  plains  of  North  Dakota.  But  when  the  forests  of  the  vSas- 
katchewan  are  reached  the  northwestward  course  is  resumed  and,  with  a  slight  verging 
toward  the  west,  is  held  until  the  nesting  region  in  the  Alaskan  spruces  is  attained. 

Cliff  Swallows  in  South  America  are  winter  neighbors  of  the  Black-poll  Warblers.  But 
when  in  early  spring  nature  prompts  the  Swallows  which  are  to  nest  in  Nova  Scotia  to  seek 
that  far-off  land,  situated  exactly  north  of  their  winter  abode,  they  begin  their  journey  by 
a  westward  flight  of  several  hundred  miles  to  Panama.  Thence  they  move  leisurely  along 
the  western  shore  of  the  Caribbean  Sea  to  Mexico,  and,  still  avoiding  any  long  trip  over 
water,  go  completely  around  the  western  end  of  the  Gulf.  Hence  as  they  cross  Louisiana 
their  course  is  directly  opposite  to  that  in  which  they  started.  A  northeasterly  flight  from 
Louisiana  to  Maine  and  an  easterly  one  to  Nova  Scotia  completes  their  spring  migration. 
This  circuitous  route  has  increased  their  flight  more  than  2,000  miles. 

Why  should  the  Swallow  select  a  route  so  much  more  roundabout  than  that  taken  by 
the  Warbler?  The  explanation  is  simple.  The  Warbler  is  a  night  migrant.  Launching 
into  the  air  soon  after  nightfall,  it  wings  its  way  through  the  darkness  toward  some  favorite 
lunch  station,  usually  one  to  several  hundred  miles  distant,  and  here  it  rests  and  feeds  for 
several  days  before  undertaking  the  next  stage  of  its  journey.  Its  migration  consists  of  a 
series  of  long  flights  from  one  feeding  place  to  the  next,  and  naturally  it  takes  the  most  direct 
course  between  stations,  not  avoiding  any  body  of  water  that  can  be  compassed  in  a  single 
flight. 

The  Swallow,  on  the  other  hand,  is  a  day  migrant.  It  begins  its  spring  migration  several 
weeks  earlier  than  the  Warbler  and  catches  each  day's  rations  of  flying  insects  during  a 
few  hours  of  slow  evolutions,  which  at  the  same  time  accomplish  the  work  of  migration. 
Keeping  along  the  insect-teeming  shores,  the  2,000  extra  miles  thereby  added  to  the  migra- 
tion route  are  but  a  tithe  of  the  distance  the  bird  covers  in  pursuit  of  its  daily  food. 

The  normal  migration  route  for  the  birds  of  eastern  North  America  is  a  northeast  and 
southwest  course  approximately  parallel  with  the  trend  of  the  Atlantic  coast;  the  birds 
breeding  in  the  interior  take  a  line  of  flight  parallel  in  general  with  the  course  of  the  three 
great  river  valleys  —  those  of  the  Mississippi,  the  Red,  and  the  Mackenzie  —  that  form  a 
highway  rich  in  food  supplies  between  their  winter  and  summer  homes.  Many  birds,  how- 
ever, follow  migration  routes  widely  differing  from  the  normal.  One  of  the  most  extreme 
exceptions  is  that  of  the  Marbled  Godwit.  Formerly  a  common  breeder  in  North  Dakota 
and  Saskatchewan,  some  individuals  on  starting  for  their  winter  home  in  Central  America 
took  a  course  almost  due  east  to  the  Maritime  Provinces  of  Canada  and  thence  followed 


xii  BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 

the  Atlantic  coast  to  Florida  and  continued  southward;  others  went  in  the  opposite  direc- 
tion, traveling  westward  to  southern  Alaska  and  southward  along  the  Pacific  coast  to 
Guatemala.  Thus  birds  which  were  neighbors  in  summer  became  separated  nearly  3,000 
miles  during  migration,  to  settle  finally  in  close  prox'mity  for  the  winter. 

The  Connecticut  Warbler,  choosing  another  eccentric  course,  adopts  different  routes 
for  its  southward  and  northward  journeys.  All  the  individuals  of  this  species  winter  in 
South  America,  and  so  far  as  known  all  go  and  come  by  the  same  direct  route  between  Florida 
and  vSouth  America  across  the  West  Indies;  but  north  of  Florida  the  spring  and  fall  routes 
diverge.  The  spring  route  leads  the  birds  up  the  Mississippi  Valley  to  their  summer  home 
in  southern  Canada;  but  fall  migration  begins  with  a  1,000-mile  trip  almost  due  east  to  New 
England,  whence  the  coast  is  followed  southwest  to  Florida.  The  Connecticut  Warbler  is 
considered  rare,  but  the  multitudes  that  have  struck  Long  Island  lighthouses  during  October 
storms  show  that  the  species  is  at  least  more  common  than  would  be  judged  from  spring 
observations,  and  also  show  how  closely  it  follows  the  coast  line  during  fall  migration.  The 
breeding  of  the  Connecticut  Warbler  offers  a  fruitful  field  of  investigation  for  some  bird 
lover  during  a  summer  vacation,  for  there  undoubtedly  is  a  large  and  as  yet  undiscovered 
breeding  area  in  Ontario  north  of  Lakes  Huron  and  Superior.  Incidentally  this  route  of  the 
Connecticut  Warbler  is  a  conclusive  argument  against  the  theory  that  migration  routes 
always  indicate  the  original  pioneer  path  by  which  the  birds  invaded  the  region  of  their 
present  summer  homes. 

Another  species  having  an  elliptical  migration  route  is  the  White-winged  Scoter.  This 
Duck  breeds  near  fresh  water  in  the  interior  of  Canada  and  winters  entirely  on  the  ocean 
along  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific  coasts  of  the  United  States.  From  its  summer  home  west 
of  Hudson  Bay  individuals  that  are  to  winter  on  the  Atlantic  travel  1,500  miles  almost  due 
east  to  the  coast  of  the  most  eastern  part  of  Labrador;  thence  they  cross  the  Gulf  of  St. 
Lawrence  and  follow  the  New  England  coast  to  their  winter  home,  which  extends  from 
southwestern  Maine  to  Chesapeake  Bay,  with  the  center  of  abundance  off  Long  Island 
and  Massachusetts.  In  spring  the  birds  return  to  their  breeding  grounds  by  an  inland  route 
traversing  the  valleys  of  the  Connecticut,  Hudson,  and  Ottawa  rivers.  Individuals  that 
winter  along  the  Pacific  coast  from  Washington  to  southern  California  are  known  to  pass 
by  thousands  up  and  down  the  coast  as  far  north  as  that  coast  has  a  generally  north  and 
south  trend;  but  as  soon  as  the  coast  line  turns  westward  near  the  northwestern  part  of 
British  Columbia  the  birds  disappear  and  are  not  known  anywhere  in  the  500-mile  strip 
between  the  Pacific  coast  and  the  Mackenzie  Valley.  Apparently  this  region  is  crossed  at 
a  single  flight  from  the  salt  water  of  the  coast  to  the  fresh-water  summer  home  on  the  great 
lakes  of  the  Mackenzie  Valley. 

A  migration  route  entirely  different  from  any  thus  far  mentioned  is  that  of  the  Western 
Tanager,  or  Louisiana  Tanager,  as  it  was  formerly  called.  From  its  winter  home  in  Guate- 
mala it  enters  the  United  States  about  April  20;  another  10  days  and  the  van  is  in  central 
New  Mexico,  Arizona,  and  southern  California,  marking  an  approximately  east  and  west 
line.  The  next  10  days  the  easternmost  birds  advance  only  to  southern  Colorado,  while 
the  western  have  reached  northern  Washington.  May  10  finds  the  line  of  the  van  extending 
in  a  great  curve  from  Vancouver  Island  northeast  to  central  Alberta  and  thence  southeast 
to  northern  Colorado.  It  is  evident  that  the  Alberta  birds  have  not  reached  their  breeding 
grounds  by  way  of  the  eastern  slope  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  a  route  which  would  naturally 
be  taken  for  granted  by  anyone  examining  a  map  of  the  winter  and  summer  homes.  On 
the  contrary,  these  Alberta  breeders  must  have  come  by  way  of  the  Pacific  coast  to  southern 
British  Columbia  and  then  crossed  over  the  main  range  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  which  at 
this  season  (May  20)  are  still  cold  and  parth^  covered  with  snow. 

The  shape  of  North  America  tends  to  a  converging  of  the  lines  of  migration  toward  the 
Gulf  of  Mexico,  and  consequently  the  east  and  west  breadth  of  the  migration  route  just 
south  of  the  United  States  is  usually  less  than  the  corresponding  breadth   of   the    breeding 


William  L.  Fmley  and  H.  T.  Bohlman  photographing  nest  of  Western  Tanagers  in  top  of  fir  tree,  eighty  feet 

from  the  ground 
[xiiil 


xiv  BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 

territory.  The  extent  to  which  migration  routes  contract  varies  greatly  with  different 
species.  The  Redstart  represents  one  extreme  where  the  Hnes  of  migration  are  carried  far 
eastward  to  include  the  Bahamas  and  the  Antilles,  while  they  also  extend  southward  into 
Mexico.  Thus  the  migrating  hosts  present  a  broad  front  with  an  east  and  west  extension 
of  2,500  miles  from  Mexico  to  the  Lesser  Antilles. 

The  opposite  extreme,  a  narrow  migration  route,  appears  in  the  case  of  the  Rose-breasted 
Grosbeak.  The  breeding  range  extends  from  Nova  Scotia  to  central  Alberta,  2,500  miles, 
and  the  migration  lines  converge  until  the  Grosbeaks  leave  the  United  States  along  800 
miles  of  the  Gulf  coast  from  western  Florida  to  central  Texas. 

The  case  of  the  Bobolink  is  typical  of  many  species  nesting  in  North  America  and  win- 
tering entirely  in  South  America.  The  summer  home  extends  from  Cape  Breton  Island  to 
Saskatchewan,  2,300  miles,  and  the  migration  lines  converge  toward  southeastern  United 
States  and  then  strike  directly  across  the  West  Indies  for  South  America.  In  this  part  of 
their  journey  the  migration  path  contracts  to  an  east  and  west  breadth  of  about  800  miles, 
and  a  very  large  percentage  of  the  birds  restrict  themselves  to  the  eastern  half  of  it.  In 
South  America  the  region  occupied  during  the  winter  has  about  one-fifth  the  breadth  and 
one-third  the  area  of  the  breeding  range. 

The  route  of  the  Scarlet  Tanager  is  an  extreme  example  of  narrowness  of  the  path  traveled 
twice  a  year  between  winter  and  summer  homes.  The  breeding  range  extends  i,goo  miles 
from  New  Brunswick  to  Saskatchewan.  The  migration  range  is  contracted  to  800  miles 
from  Florida  to  Texas  as  the  birds  leave  the  United  States.  The  migration  lines  continue 
to  converge  until  in  southern  Central  America  the  limits  are  not  more  than  100  miles  apart. 

The  Black  and  White  Warbler  presents  some  interesting  phases  of  migration.  It  winters 
in  Central  America,  Mexico,  the  West  Indies,  and  the  peninsula  of  Florida.  Ordinarily  it 
would  not  be  possible  to  distinguish  the  spring  migrants  in  Florida  from  the  wintering  birds, 
and  the  advance  of  migration  could  not  be  noted  until  the  migrants  had  passed  north  of 
the  winter  range,  but  records  of  Black  and  White  Warblers  striking  lighthouses  of  southern 
Florida  indicate  the  beginning  of  the  birds'  northward  migration  flight  from  Cuba.  This 
occurs  on  the  average  on  March  4,  and  the  birds  do  not  appear  in  southern  Georgia  beyond 
their  winter  range  on  the  average  until  March  24.  Thus  a  period  of  20  days  is  taken  for 
the  van  of  migration  to  move  400  miles  across  Florida,  an  average  rate  of  20  miles  per  day. 
This  rate  is  about  the  slowest  of  all  North  American  birds  and  is  only  slightly  increased 
throughout  the  whole  spring  migration  up  the  Atlantic  coast  to  Nova  Scotia,  where  the  birds 
arrive  about  May  20,  having  averaged  less  than  25  miles  a  day  for  the  whole  77  days  after 
leaving  Cuba. 

Migration  along  the  western  border  of  the  range  is  fully  as  slow  as  along. the  Atlantic 
coast;  on  the  average,  the  first  arrive  at  Kerrville,  Tex.,  March  9  and  in  northern  North 
Dakota  May  10,  having  traveled  1,300  miles  in  60  days,  or  22  miles  a  day.  Thence  the 
speed  is  more  than  doubled  to  the  northwestern  limit  of  the  range  in  the  Mackenzie  Valley. 

Incidentally  it  may  be  remarked  that  the  Black  and  White  Warbler  is  one  of  the  very 
few  migrants  which  arrive  in  Texas  and  Florida  before  they  appear  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Mississippi.    The  van  of  most  species  reaches  southern  Louisiana  earlier  than  southern  Texas. 

The  Cliff  Swallow  is  another  species  with  a  slow  migration  schedule.  It  must  start 
northward  very  early,  since  by  March  10  it  is  already  2,500  miles  from  the  winter  home  and 
yet  averages  only  25  miles  a  day  for  the  next  20  days  while  rounding  the  western  end  of  the 
Gulf  of  Mexico.  It  more  than  doubles  this  rate  while  passing  up  the  Mississippi  and  Ohio 
River  valleys.  The  crossing  of  the  Allegheny  Mountains  comes  next,  and  there  are  only  200 
miles  of  progress  to  show  for  the  10  days'  flight.  By  this  time  spring  has  really  come  east  of 
the  AUeghenies,  and  the  Swallow  travels  60  miles  a  day  to  its  summer  home  in  Nova  Scotia. 
It  is  to  be  noted  that  the  Swallow  works  up  to  high  rates  of  speed  only  when  it  is  traveling 
on  the  diagonal,  and  that  except  during  the  ten  days  spent  in  crossing  the  mountains  each 
ID  days'  travel  covers  approximately  5  degrees  of  latitude. 


BIRD    MIGRATION  xv 

One  of  the  best  examples  of  rapid  migration  is  that  of  the  Gray-cheeked  Thrush.  This 
bird  remains  in  its  South  American  winter  home  so  long  that  it  does  not  appear  in  southern 
United  States  until  late  April  —  April  25  near  the  mouth  of  the  Mississippi  and  April  30 
in  northern  Florida.  The  last  week  in  May  finds  the  bird  in  extreme  northwestern  Alaska, 
the  4,000  mile  trip  from  Louisiana  to  Alaska  having  been  performed  in  about  30  days,  or 
about  130  miles  a  day. 

Generally  the  later  in  the  season  a  bird  migrates  the  greater  is  its  average  speed,  but 
not  necessarily  the  distance  covered  in  a  single  night.  The  early  migrants  encounter  much 
bad  weather,  and  after  one  night's  migration  usually  delay  several  days  before  making  the 
next  flight.  The  later  migrant  finds  few  nights  too  unfavorable  for  advancing,  so  that  short 
flights  taken  on  successive  nights  greatly  raise  the  average  migration  speed. 

How  do  migrating  birds  find  their  wa}-?  They  do  not  journey  haphazard,  for  the 
familiar  inhabitants  of  our  door>-ard  Marten  boxes  will  return  next  year  to  these  same  boxes, 
though  meanwhile  thay  have  visited  Brazil.  If  the  entire  distance  were  made  overland,  it 
might  be  supposed  that  sight  and  memon,-  were  the  only  faculties  exercised.  But  for  those 
birds  that  cross  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  something  more  than  sight  is  necessary.  Among  day 
migrants  sight  probably  is  the  principal  guide,  but  it  is  noticeable  that  these  seldom  make 
the  long  single  flights  so  common  with  night  migrants. 

Sight  undoubtedly  does  play  a  part  in  guiding  the  night  journeys  also.  On  clear  nights, 
especially  when  the  moon  shines  brightly,  migrating  birds  fly  high  and  the  ear  can  scarcely 
distinguish  their  faint  twitterings;  if  clouds  overspread  the  heavens,  the  flocks  pass  nearer 
the  earth  and  their  notes  are  much  more  audible,  and  on  very  dark  nights  the  flutter  of 
vibrant  wings  may  be  heard  but  a  few  feet  overhead.  Nevertheless,  something  besides  sight 
guides  these  travelers  in  the  upper  air.  In  Alaska  a  few  years  ago  members  of  the  Biological 
Survey  on  the  Harriman  expedition  went  b}'  steamer  from  the  island  of  Unalaska  to  Bogoslof 
Island,  a  distance  of  about  60  miles.  A  dense  fog  shut  out  every  object  beyond  a  hundred 
yards.  When  the  steamer  was  halfway  across,  flocks  of  Murres,  returning  to  Bogoslof  after 
long  quests  for  food,  began  to  break  through  the  fog-wall  astern,  fly  parallel  with  the  vessel, 
and  disappear  in  the  mists  ahead.  By  chart  and  compass  the  ship  was  heading  straight 
for  the  island,  but  its  course  was  no  more  exact  than  that  taken  by  the  birds.  The  power 
which  carried  them  unerringly  home  over  the  ocean  wastes,  whatever  its  nature,  may  be  called 
a  sense  of  direction.  We  recognize  in  ourselves  the  possession  of  some  such  sense,  though 
imperfect  and  frequently  at  fault.  Doubtless  a  similar  but  vastly  more  acute  sense  enables 
the  Murres,  flying  from  home  and  circling  wide  over  the  water,  to  keep  in  mind  the  direction 
of  their  nests  and  return  to  them  without  the  aid  of  sight. 

But  even  the  birds'  sense  of  direction  is  not  infallible.  Reports  from  lighthouses  in 
southern  Florida  show  that  birds  leave  Cuba  on  cloudy  nights,  when  they  can  not  possibly 
see  the  Florida  shores,  and  safely  reach  their  destination,  provided  no  change  occurs  in  the 
weather.  But  at  fickle  equinoctial  time  many  flocks  starting  out  under  auspicious  skies  find 
themselves  suddenly  caught  by  a  tempest.  Buffeted  by  the  wind  and  their  sense  of  direction 
lost,  these  birds  fall  easy  victims  to  the  lure  of  the  lighthouse.  Many  are  killed  by  the  impact, 
but  many  more  settle  on  the  framework  or  foundation  until  the  storm  ceases  or  the  coming 
of  daylight  allows  them  to  recover  their  bearings. 

A  favorite  theor>'  of  many  American  ornithologists  is  that  coast  lines,  mountain  chains, 
and  especially  the  courses  of  the  larger  rivers  and  their  tributaries  form  well-marked  highways 
along  which  birds  return  to  previous  nesting  sites.  According  to  this  theory,  a  bird  breeding 
in  northern  Indiana  would  in  its  fall  migration  pass  down  the  nearest  little  rivulet  or  creek 
to  the  Wabash  River,  thence  to  the  Ohio,  and  reaching  the  IVlississippi  would  follow  its 
course  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  and  would  use  the  same  route  reversed  for  the  return  trip 
in  the  spring.  The  fact  is  that  each  county  in  the  Central  States  contains  nesting  birds 
which  at  the  beginning  of  the  fall  migration  scatter  toward  half  the  points  of  the 
compass;   indeed,    it  would   be   safe   to  say   all   the  points  of  the  compass,  as  some  young 


xvi  BIRDS   OF    AMERICA 

Herons  preface  their  regular  journey  south  with  a  little  pleasure  trip  to  the  unexplored 
north.  In  fall  most  of  the  migrant  land  birds  breeding  in  New  England  move  south- 
west in  a  line  approximately  parallel  with  the  Allegheny  Mountains,  but  we  can  not 
argue  from  this  fact  that  the  route  is  selected  so  that  mountains  will  serve  as  a  guide, 
because  at  this  very  time  thousands  of  birds  reared  in  Indiana,  Illinois,  and  to  the  north- 
westward are  crossing  these  mountains  at  right  angles  to  visit  South  Carolina  and  Georgia. 
This  is  shown  specifically  in  the  case  of  the  Palm  Warblers.  They  winter  in  the  Gulf  States 
from  Louisiana  eastward  and  throughout  the  greater  Antilles  to  Porto  Rico;  they  nest  in 
Canada  from  the  Mackenzie  Valley  to  Newfoundland.  To  migrate  according  to  the  "  lay 
of  the  land,"  the  Louisiana  Palm  Warblers  should  follow  up  the  broad  open  highway  of 
the  Mississippi  River  to  its  source  and  go  thence  to  their  breeding  grounds,  while  the  Warblers 
of  the  Antilles  should  use  the  Allegheny  Mountains  as  a  guide.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  the 
Louisiana  birds  nest  in  Labrador  and  those  from  the  Antilles  cut  diagonally  across  the  United 
States  to  summer  in  central  Canada.  These  two  routes  of  Palm  Warblers  cross  each  other 
in  Georgia  at  approximately  right  angles.  It  is  possible  to  trace  the  routes  of  the  Palm 
Warblers  because  those  nesting  to  the  east  of  Hudson  Bay  differ  enough  in  color  from  those 
nesting  farther  west  to  be  readily  distinguished  even  in  their  winter  dress.  It  must  always 
be  remembered,  however,  that  from  a  common  ancestry  these  two  groups  of  Palm  Warblers 
came  to  differ  in  appearance  because  they  gradually  evolved  differences  in  breeding  grounds 
and  in  migration  routes  and  not  that  they  chose  different  routes  because  they  were  sub- 
specifically  different. 

The  truth  seems  to  be  that  birds  pay  little  attention  to  natural  physical  highways  except 
when  large  bodies  of  water  force  them  to  deviate  from  the  desired  course.  Food  is  the 
principal  factor  in  determining  migration  routes,  and  in  general  the  course  between  summer 
and  winter  homes  is  as  straight  as  the  birds  can  find  and  still  have  an  abundance  of  food 
at  each  stopping  place. 

It  is  interesting  to  note  the  relation  between  migration  and  molting.  Most  birds  care 
for  their  young  until  old  enough  to  look  out  for  themselves,  then  molt,  and  when  the  new 
feathers  are  grown  start  on  their  southward  journey  in  their  new  suits  of  clothes.  But 
the  birds  that  nest  beyond  the  Arctic  Circle  have  too  short  a  summer  to  permit  such  leisurely 
movements.  They  begin  their  migration  as  soon  as  possible  after  the  young  are  out  of  the 
nest  and  molt  en  route.  Indeed,  these  Arctic  breeders  are  so  pressed  for  time  that  many 
of  them  do  their  courting  during  the  period  of  spring  migration  and  arrive  at  the  breeding 
grounds  already  paired  and  ready  for  nest  building,  while  many  a  Robin  and  Bluebird  in 
the  middle  Mississippi  Valley  has  been  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  nesting  site  a  full  month 
before  it  carries  the  first  straw  of  construction. 

Migration  is  a  season  full  of  peril  for  myriads  of  winged  travelers,  especially  for  those 
that  cross  large  bodies  of  water.  Some  of  the  water  birds  making  long  voyages  can  rest 
on  the  waves  if  overtaken  by  storms,  but  for  the  luckless  Warbler  or  Sparrow  whose  feathers 
become  water-soaked  an  ocean  grave  is  inevitable.  Nor  are  such  accidents  infrequent. 
A  few  years  ago  on  Lake  Michigan  a  storm  during  spring  migration  forced  to  the  waves 
numerous  victims,  as  evidenced  by  many  subsequently  drifting  ashore.  If  such  mortality 
could  occur  on  a  lake  less  than  loo  miles  wide,  how  much  more  likely  even  a  greater  disaster 
attending  a  flight  across  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  Such  a  catastrophe  was  once  witnessed  from 
the  deck  of  a  vessel  30  miles  off  the  mouth  of  the  Mississippi  River.  Large  numbers  of 
migrating  birds,  mostly  Warblers,  had  accomplished  nine-tenths  of  their  long  flight  and 
were  nearing  land,  when  caught  by  a  "  norther,"  with  which  most  of  them  were  unable 
to  contend,  and  falling  into  the  Gulf  they  were  drowned  by  hundreds. 

During  migration  birds  are  peculiarly  liable  to  destruction  by  striking  high  objects. 
The  Washington  Monument,  at  the  National  Capital,  has  witnessed  the  death  of  many 
little  migrants;  on  a  single  morning  in  the  spring  of  1902  nearly  150  lifeless  bodies  were 
strewn  around  its  base. 


BIRD    MIGR^ATION  xvii 

"^  Even,-  spring  the  lights  of  the  Hghthouses  along  the  coast  lure  to  destruction   myriads 

of  birds  en  route  from  their  winter  homes  in  the  south  to  their  summer  nesting  places  in 
the  north.  Every  fall  a  still  greater  death  toll  is  exacted  when  the  return  journey  is  made. 
Lighthouses  are  scattered  every  few  miles  along  the  more  than  3,000  miles  of  coast  Hne, 
but  two  lighthouses,  Fowey  Rocks  and  Sombrero  Key,  cause  far  more  bird  tragedies  than 
any  others.  The  reason  is  twofold  —  their  geographic  position  and  the  character  of  their 
lights.  Both  lights  are  situated  at  the  southern  end  of  Florida,  where  countless  thousands 
of  birds  pass  each  year  to  and  from  Cuba;  and  both  are  lights  of  the  first  magnitude  on 
towers  100-140  feet  high.  Fowey  Rocks  has  a  fixed  white  light,  the  deadliest  of  all. 
A  flashing  light  frightens  birds  away  and  a  red  light  is  avoided  by  them  as  would  be  a  danger 
signal,  but  a  steady  white  light  looming  out  of  the  mist  or  darkness  seems  like  a  magnet 
drawing  the  wanderers  to  destruction.  Coming  from  any  direction  they  veer  around  to  the 
leeward  side  and  then  flying  against  the  wind  strike  the  glass,  or  more  often  exhaust  themselves 
like  moths  fluttering  in  and  out  of  the  bewildering  rays. 

During  the  spring  migration  of  1903  two  experienced  ornithologists  spent  the  entire 
season  on  the  coast  of  northwestern  Florida,  visiting  every  sort  of  bird  haunt.  They  were 
eminently  successful  in  the  long  list  of  species  identified,  but  their  enumeration  is  still  more 
remarkable  for  what  it  does  not  contain.  About  25  species  of  the  smaller  land  birds  of  the 
Eastern  States  were  not  seen,  including  a  dozen  common  species.  ■  Among  these  latter 
were  the  Chat,  the  Redstart,  and  the  Indigo  Bunting,  three  species  abundant  throughout 
the  whole  region  to  the  northward.  The  explanation  of  their  absence  from  the  list  seems 
to  be  that  these  birds,  on  crossing  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  flew  far  inland  before  alighting  and 
thus  passed  over  the  observers.  This  would  seem  to  disprove  the  popular  belief  that  birds 
under  ordinary  circumstances  find  the  ocean  flight  excessively  wearisome,  and  that  after 
laboring  with  tired  pinions  across  the  seemingly  endless  wastes  they  sink  exhausted  on  reaching 
terra  firma.  The  truth  seems  to  be  that,  endowed  by  nature  with  wonderful  powers  of 
aerial  locomotion,  many  birds  under  normal  conditions  not  only  cross  the  Gulf  of  Mexico 
at  its  widest  point  but  even  pass  without  pause  over  the  low  swampy  coastal  plain  to  the 
higher  territon>^  beyond. 

So  Httle  averse  are  birds  to  an  ocean  flight  that  many  fly  from  eastern  Texas  to  the 
Gulf  coast  of  southern  Mexico,  though  this  400  miles  of  water  journey  hardly  shortens  the 
distance  of  travel  by  an  hour's  flight.  Thus  birds  avoid  the  hot,  treeless  plains  and  scant 
provender  of  southern  Texas  by  a  direct  flight  from  the  moist  insect-teeming  forests  of 
northern  Texas  to  a  similar  country  in  southern  Mexico. 

It  may  be  well  to  consider  the  actual  amount  of  energy  expended  by  birds  in  their 
migratory  flights.  Both  the  soaring  and  the  sailing  of  birds  show  that  they  are  proficient 
in  the  use  of  several  factors  in  the  art  of  flying  that  have  not  yet  been  mastered  either  in 
principle  or  practice  by  the  most  skillful  of  modern  aviators.  A  Vulture  or  a  Crane,  after 
a  few  preliminary  wing  beats,  sets  its  wings  and  mounts  in  wide  sweeping  circles  to  a  great 
height,  overcoming  gravity  with  no  exertion  apparent  to  human  vision  even  when  assisted 
by  the  most  powerful  telescopes.  The  Carolina  Rail,  or  Sora,  has  small,  short  wings 
apparently  ill  adapted  to  protracted  flight,  and  ordinarily  when  forced  to  fly  does  so 
reluctantly  and  alights  as  soon  as  possible.  It  flies  with  such  awkwardness  and  apparently 
becomes  so  quickly  exhausted  that  at  least  one  writer  has  been  led  to  infer  that  most  of  its 
migration  must  be  made  on  foot;  the  facts  are,  however,  that  the  Carolina  Rail  has  one 
of  the  longest  migration  routes  of  the  whole  Rail  family  and  easily  crosses  the  wide  reaches 
of  the  Caribbean  Sea.  The  Hummingbird,  smallest  of  all  birds,  crosses  the  Gulf  of  Mexico, 
flying  over  500  miles  in  a  single  night.  As  already  noted,  the  Golden  Plover  flies  from  Nova 
Scotia  to  South  America,  and  in  fair  weather  makes  the  whole  distance  of  2,400  miles  without 
a  stop,  probably  requiring  nearly  if  not  quite  48  hours  for  the  trip. 

Here  is  an  aerial  machine  that  is  far  more  economical  of  fuel  —  i.  e.,  of  energ},-  —  than 
the  best  aeroplane  yet  invented.     The  to-and-fro  motion  of  the  bird's  wing  appears  to  be  an 

\'0I,.     III.  —  .' 


xviii  BIRDS    OF   AMERICA 

uneconomical  way  of  applying  power,  since  all  the  force  required  to  bring  the  wing  forward 
for  the  beginning  of  the  stroke  is  not  only  wasted,  but  more  than  wasted,  as  it  largely  increases 
the  air  friction  and  retards  the  speed.  On  the  other  hand,  the  screw  propeller  of  the  aero- 
plane has  no  lost  motion.  Yet  less  than  2  ounces  of  fuel  in  the  shape  of  body  fat  suffice 
to  force  the  bird  at  a  high  rate  of  speed  over  that  2,400-mile  course.  A  thousand-pound 
aeroplane,  if  as  economical  of  fuel,  would  consume  in  a  20-mile  flight  not  the  gallon  of 
gasoline  required  by  the  best  machines  but  only  a  single  pint. 

The  Canada  Goose  is  typical  of  what  may  be  called  regular  migration.     This   bird 
fulfills  the  popular  notion  of  bird  migration,  /.  c,  it  moves  northward  in  spring  as   soon  as 


ISOTHERM    or    35°  F 
ISOCHRONAL    MIGRATION    LINES 


Tnurtesy  of  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture 
MIGRATION  OF  THE  CANADA  GOOSE 
An  example  of  migration  keeping  pace  with  the  advance  of  spring 


the  loosening  of  winter's  fetters  offers  open  water  and  a  possibility  of  food.  It  continues 
its  progress  at  the  same  rate  as  spring,  appearing  at  its  most  northern  breeding  grounds 
at  the  earliest  possible  moment.  The  isotherm  of  35°  F.  seems  to  be  the  governing  factor 
in  the  rate  of  spring  migration  of  the  Canada  Goose  and  the  isotherm  and  the  vanguard 
of  the  Geese  are  close  traveling  companions  throughout  the  entire  route.  Moreover,  the 
isochronal  lines  representing  the  position  of  the  van  at  various  times  are  approximately 
east-and-west  lines  during  the  whole  migration  period.  But  this  so-called  regular  migration 
is  performed  by  a  very  small  percentage  of  species,  the  great  majority  choosing  exactly 
the  opposite  course  —  to  remain  in  their  winter  homes  until  spring  is  far  advanced  and  then 
reach  their  breeding  grounds  by  a  migration  much  more  rapid  than  the  northward  advance 
of  the  season. 

Much  has  been  learned  about  bird  migration  in  these  latter  days,  but  much  yet  remains 
to  be  learned. 


ORDER     OF    PERCHING    BIRDS    Concluded 


Order  Pas 


FINCHES 

suborder  Osci}ics ;  family  Frijigillidcr 


^HE  Finches  are  the  largest  family  of  birds;  there  are  about  twelve  hundred 
species  and  subspecies  scattered  over  the  world  except  in  Australia;  about 
two  hundred  are  represented  in  the  United  States.  They  belong  to  the 
larger  division  of  singing  birds.  All  have  cone-shaped  bills,  nine  feathers 
in  the  hand  section  of  the  wing,  and  a  sharp  angle  at  the  back  of  each  foot. 
The  line  of  opening  of  the  bill  turns  downward  near  the  base,  and  in  some 
of  the  Finches  the  cutting  edge  of  the  lower  bill  is  distinctly  elevated  about 
the  center,  this  raised  portion  forming  a  tooth.  At  the  corners  of  the  mouth 
are  bristles,  sometimes  indistinct  liut  usually  quite  easily  seen.  There  are 
always  twelve  feathers  in  the  tail,  l;)ut  the  shape  varies.  The  nostrils  are 
high  up,  bare  in  some  species  and  in  others  covered  with  bristles. 
The  plumage  varies  from  almost  plain  to  highly  variegated.  The  coloring  of  the 
Sparrows  is  adapted  to  their  grassy,  dusty  habitats  and  the  males  and  females  are  similar;, 
while  in  the  subdivision  of  Finches  the  males  are  chiefly  bright-colored  and  the  females 
either  duller  or  with  a  distinct  plumage.  Nests  are  generally  placed  on  the  ground  or  in 
bushes  or  in  low  trees. 

These  birds  are  essentially  seed-eaters,  their  strong  bills  being  jjeculiarly  adapted  to 
this  kind  of  food.  They  do,  of  course,  eat  insects  also.  Because  of  this  indifiference  to 
animal  food  the  Finches  are  less  migratory  than  most  birds. 

Year  by  year  the  usefulness  of  this  family  is  more  and  more  appreciated  by  humans. 
They  lay  the  farmer  under  a  heavy  debt  of  gratitude  by  their  food  habits,  since  their  chosen 
fare  consists  largely  of  the  seeds  of  weeds.  Some  idea  of  the  money  value  of  this  group 
of  birds  to  the  country  may  be  gained  from  the  statement  that  the  total  value  of  the  farm 
products  in  the  United  States  in  iqio  reached  the  sum  of  $8, g26, 000,000  If  we  estimate 
that  the  total  consumption  of  weed  seed  by  the  combined  members  of  this  family  resulted 
in  a  saving  of  only  one  per  cent  of  the  crops  —  not  a  violent  assumption  —  the  sum  saved 
to  farmers  by  these  birds  in  igio  was  $89,260,000. 

Their  work  begins  before  the  seeds  are  ripe  and  continues  throughout  fall  and  winter 
and  even  far  into  spring.  The  Sparrows  that  breed  on  the  farm  have  to  content  them- 
selves early  in  the  spring  with  seeds  left  from  the  preceding  year.  During  August  the  seed- 
eating  of  Sparrows  is  sufficiently  noticeable  to  attract  the  attention  of  even  a  casual  observer; 
for  by  this  time  great  stores  of  weed  seed  have  ripened  and  the  young  Sparrows,  which  have 
lieen  exclusively  insectivorous,  are  ready  to  take  vegetable  food.  From  autumn  to  spring 
evidence  of  the  seed-eating  habits  of  Sparrows  is  so  plain  that  he  who  runs  may  read ;  the  lively 
flocks  diving  here  and  there  among  the  brown  weeds  to  feed  are  familiar  adjuncts  of  every 
roadside,  fence  row,  and  field.  A  person  visiting  one  of  the  weed  patches  in  the  agricultural 
region  of  the  upper  Mississipjji  valley  on  a  sunny  morning  in  January,  when  the  thermometer 
is  20  or  more  below  zero,  will  be  struck  by  the  life  and  animation  of  the  busy  little  inhabitants. 
Instead  of  sitting  forlorn  and  half  frozen,  they  may  be  seen  flitting  from  branch  to  branch, 
twittering  and  fluttering,  and  showing  every  evidence  of  enjoyment  and  perfect  comfort. 
If  one  of  them  is  shot,  it  will  be  found  in  excellent  condition  —  in  fact,  a  veritable  ball  of  fat. 
The  most  serious  charge  that  can  be  brought  against  members  of  the  Finch  family 
is  that  they  distribute  noxious  plants,  the  seeds  of  which  pass  through  their  stomachs  and 
germinate  when  voided  from  the  body.  However,  it  seems  likely  that  this  agency  of  seed- 
ing down  farms  to  weeds  is  infinitesimal  when  compared  with  the  dispersion  of  weeds  caused 

[I] 


2  BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 

by  the  use  of  manure  containing  weed  seed  and  the  planting  of  impure  seed,  which  often 
contains  seeds  of  foreign  weeds  of  the  worst  stamp.  Birds  take  seeds  for  food  and  it  seems 
probable  that  such  use  would  preclude  the  evacuation  of  any  but  a  most  insignificant  propor- 
tion of  uninjured  seeds. 

Four  vernacular  names  have  been  applied  to  this  group :  Buntings,  Grosbeaks,  Sparrows, 
and  Finches.  "Bunting "  means  plump, or  dumpy,  or  rounded  out,  as  a  sail  is  filled  with  the 
wind,  and  its  application  to  this  family  refers  to  the  stocky  little  bodies  of  its  members.  "Gros- 
beak" has  reference  to  their  short,  thick  bills,  but  is  not  altogether  appropriate  as  there  are 
birds  in  other  families  with  this  characteristic.  "Sparrow"  literally  means  "  fiutterer  "  and 
has  come  to  us  from  the  Anglo-Saxon  spearwa,  through  the  mediaeval  English  sparwe,  sparewe, 
and  sparowc.  "Finch"  is  also  of  Anglo-Saxon  origin,  but  its  literal  meaning  has  been  lost. 
Robert  Ridgway  considers  it  the  most  appropriate  of  the  popular  names  for  this  family  in 
America;  he  says  (manuscript)  that  in  a  strict  sense  the  term  "Sparrow"  pertains  to  the 
species  Passer  only,  represented  in  America  only  by  the  introduced  House  Sparrow,  or  so- 
called  English  Sparrow,  and  in  this  restricted  sense  we  have  no  native  American  true 
Sparrows;  on  the  other  hand  there  are  many  true  Finches  in  America. 


EVENING  GROSBEAK 

Hesperiphona  vespertina   vespertina    (  W .   Cooper) 


A.  O.   U.   Ni 


514       See  Color  Plate  79 


Other  Names.—  Sugar  Bird  ;  American  Hawfinch. 

General  Description. —  Length,  S'i  inches.  Males, 
yellowisli  and  black:  female,  gray  and  black.  Bill, 
heavy  :  legs,  short ;  tail,  short  and  slightly  emarginate ; 
wings,  nearly  twice  the  length  of  tail  and  pointed. 

Color. —  Adult  Male:  Forehead  and  stripe  over  the 
eye.  yellow:  erozs.<n,  black:  rest  of  head  with  neck  and 
upper  back,  plain  olive,  lighter  and  more  yellowish  olive 
on  throat,  changing  gradually  to  clear  lemon-yellow  on 
shoulders  and  rump  and  to  lighter  yellow  on  posterior 
under  parts,  the  longer  under  tail-coverts  sometimes 
partly  white;  upper  tail-eoverts.  tail,  and  icings  black: 
inner  zcing  quills,  white  or  pale  grayish  ;  bill,  light  olive- 
yellowish  or  pale  yellowish  green  ;  iris,  brown.  Adult 
Female  :  Above,  plain  deep  smoke-gray,  the  head 
darker,  the  rump  paler ;  the  hindneck  tinged  with  yellow- 
ish olive-green  ;  throat,  abdomen,  and  under  tail-coverts 
white:  rest  of  under  parts,  light  bufify-grayish  usually 
tinged  with  yellow,  especially  on  sides  of  chest ;  wings. 


dull  black  with  iimermost  greater  coverts  largely  dull 
white,  inner  wing  quills  largely  light  gray ;  the  pri- 
maries edged  with  white  and  pale  gray,  all  except  the 
three  outermost  quills  white  at  base,  forming  a  distinct 
patch;  unper  tail-coverts  black  with  large  terminal  spots 
of  pale  bufify-grayish  and  white;  tail,  black  with  inner 
webs  of   feathers   broadly   white  at  tips. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest:  Usually  placed  in  the  top  of 
a  conifer  from  15  to  50  feet  up;  sometimes  in  other 
trees;  a  saucer-shaped  affair  of  small  twigs,  grass,  root- 
lets, bark  strips,  lined  with  fine  rootlets  or  horse- 
hair. Eggs  :  3  or  4.  clear  green  blotched  with  pale 
brown. 

Distribution. —  Interior  districts  of  North  America 
east  of  Rocky  Mountains;  north  (in  winter)  to  the 
-Saskatchewan  ;  south,  in  winter,  irregularly,  to  Kansas, 
Iowa,  Illinois.  Kentucky,  Ohio,  etc. ;  eastward,  irregu- 
larly and  in  winter  only,  to  Ontario,  New  York,  and 
New  England.     Breeds   in  western  Canada. 


The  Hawfinch  of  England  has  lived  in  a  popu- 
lous land  and  among  a  people  appreciative  of  the 
beauty  of  a  beautiful  bird.  The  American  rela- 
tive of  the  Hawfinch,  nesting  far  out  in  the  less 
accessible  foothills  of  Alberta  and  up  in  the 
Canadian  Rockies,  has  failed  to  meet  with  the 
poetical  disposition  and  the  friendship  that  be- 
long to  the  admirers  of  the  Hawfinch.  The 
Evening  Grosbeak  is  in  reality  a  stranger  to 
civilization  except  in  the  newer  West,  and  this 
newer  West  is  a  stranger  to  him.  In  the  winter 
there  may  be  seen  in  the  northwestern  States 
scattered    flocks   of    these    Grosbeaks    strikingly 


marked  in  their  yellow  and  black.  When  cer- 
tain seeds  are  scarce  they  will  drift  on  into  the 
eastern  States  in  the  middle  of  winter,  reaching 
New  England  and  the  Maritime  Provinces.  But 
these  years  are  not  often. 

During  the  early  months  of  igi6  the  presence 
of  these  birds  in  the  East  excited  an  unusual  in- 
terest. The  first  record  of  the  Evening  Grosbeak 
in  New  York  city  was  during  the  191 1  migration. 
The  ornithological  magazines  and  daily  papers 
had  many  letters  on  the  observations  made  of  the 
1916  migration.  Sara  Chandler  Eastman  gave 
the   following  interesting  and  informing  record 


FINCHES 


to  Bird-Lore:  "  The  first  record  of  the  Evening 
Grt)sheak  at  Portland.  Maine,  was  made  early  in 
Februarv.  when  a  large  flock  settled  in  a  moun- 
tain-ash on  private  grounds  in  the  western  part 
of  the  city.  Throughout  the  months  of  Febru- 
ary and  April  flocks  in  varying  numbers  were 
observed  in  different  sections  of  the  city.  aii<l  the 
birds  remained  until  the  eleventh  of  May.  none 
being  seen,  so  far  as  known,  after  that  dale."' 
The  birds  were  seen  both  in  low  jiine  trees  and 
on  the  ground.  She  added  that  "  the  males  were 
in  beautiful  plumage,  and  it  was  a  rare  treat  to 
see  them,  one's  pleasure  being  greatly  enhanced 
by  their  fearlessness,  as  they  would  permit  a  close 
approach  without  taking  flight."  Their  c;dl  is 
short  and  cheerv.  and  has  been  called  by  Mrs. 
Hailev.  "  wild  and  free." 

Down  from  western  Canada  through  the  moun- 
tains all  the  way  to  Mexico  is  a  variety  called 
the  \\'estern  Evening  Grosbeak  [  Hcs/^cripliona 
z'cspcrtiiia  iitoiitaiia).  They  breed  in  the  ca- 
nons in  Arizona  and  are  found  not  uiicumnKinly 
near  water  throughout  the  southwestern  moun- 
tain country.  In  many  of  the  tnwns  of  the 
Pacific  northwest  they  are  fairly  common  winter 
birds  in  the  street  maples  and  in  the  parks  and 
woodsides.  Mrs.  Bailey  writes  interestingly  of 
their  protective  coloration.  "  While  watching 
the  birds  on  Mt.  Shasta  one  day,  I  was  struck 
by  the  conspicuousness  of  one  that  flew  across 
an  open  space.  As  it  lit  on  a  dead  stub  whose 
silvery  branches  were  touched  with  yellow  lichen, 
to  my  amazement  it  simply  vanished." 

L.  Nelson  Nichols. 


(Jn  his  winter  visits,  the  Evening  Grosbeak 
may  be  found  feeding  on  the  buds  or  seeds  of 
trees.  The  maple,  elder,  box-elder,  and  ash,  each 
give  their  quota  to  him.  The  fruit  of  the  sumac 
also  attracts  him.  But  none  of  these  is  valued 
as  highlv  by  him  as  are  the  various  frozen  or 
dried  fruits  on  vines  and  trees ;  of  all  food  his 


by  R.  I.  BrasliLT 
EVENING  GROSBEAK 


preference  is  for  apple  seeds  taken  from  frozen 
apjjles.  A  Michigan  bird  student  reports  that 
several  of  these  birds  whicli  he  kept  in  captivity 
for  nearly  two  years  refused  to  eat  any  kind  of 
grain  except  a  few  oats  and  that  only  when  hard 
pressed.  Insects  of  any  kind  that  could  be  se- 
cured thev  absolutelv  refused  to  touch. 


PINE  GROSBEAK 
Pinicola  enucleator  leucura    {Miillcr) 

:\.    n.    U.    Number    515        See   Color   Plate   76 


Other  Names. —  .American  Pine  Grosbeak;  Canadian 
Pine  Grnshe.'ik;   Canadian  Grosbeak;  Pine  Bullfinch. 

General  Description. —  Length,  9  inches.  Male,  pale 
red  and  gray  ;  female,  gray  and  yellowish.  Bill,  short, 
broad,  and  thick;  wings,  long  and  pointed:  tail,  long 
and  eniarginated ;   feet,   small. 

Color. —  ."XriuLT  M.m.e:  General  color  of  head,  neck, 
and  under  parts  (except  abdomen,  flanks,  anal  region, 
and  under  tail-coverts),  rather  light  poppy-red  (in 
sunnner)  or  dull  pinkish  red  (in  winter),  the  feathers 
grayish  beneath  the  surface,  this  exposed  in  places, 
especially  on  chest;  nasal  tufts  and  part  of  lores  and  eye 
region,  dusky;  abdomen  and  upper  portion  of  sides 
and   flanks,   rather   light   dull   ash-gray  or   smoke-gray ; 


under  tail-coverts,  similar  but  in  part  darker,  broadly 
margined  with  white ;  the  space  between  the  shoulders, 
dusky,  broadly  margined  with  red ;  shoulders,  dark 
grayish,  margined  with  paler  gray ;  rump,  superficially, 
red ;  upper  tail-coverts,  broadly  margined  with  red : 
wings,  ciull  slate-dusky,  most  of  the  feathers  edged 
with  light  grayish  and  white  (the  edgings  broader  and 
decidedly  white  on  the  inner  quills),  the  greater  and 
middle  coverts  broadly  tipped  with  white,  forming  two 
conspicuous  bands,  which  are  sometimes,  especially  the 
anterior  one,  tinged  with  red ;  tail,  slate-dusky  edged 
with  grayish  (sometimes  tinged  with  red),  .^dult 
Female:  General  color,  plain  smoke-gray,  the  crown 
and  rump  and  part  of  upper  tail-coverts,  bright  yellow- 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


ish  olive,  tawny-olive,  or  russet,  the  back  and  anterior 
under  parts,  especially  chest,  sometimes  tinged  with  the 
same;  otherwise  like  adult  males. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest:  Usually  in  conifers;  con- 
structed with  foundation  and  outside  walls  of  twigs 
and  rootlets  enclosing  a  well  woven  "inner"  nest  of 
finer  twigs,  grasses,  and  bark  strips.  Eccs :  4,  pale 
greenish-blue,  spotted  and  blotched  with  dark  umber- 
brown  and  lavender. 


Distribution. —  Northeastern  North  America,  breed- 
ing from  Cape  P5reton  Island,  southern  Nova  Scotia, 
New  Brunswick,  Maine,  New  Hampshire,  Province  of 
Quebec,  etc.,  north  to  limit  of  coniferous  forests;  south 
in  winter  to  southern  New  England,  New  York,  north- 
ern New  Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  northern  parts  of  Ohio, 
Indiana,  and  Illinois.  Iowa.  etc..  casually  to  District  of 
Columbia.  Kentucky,  and  Kansas ;  west  tn  eastern 
Kansas.   Minnesota.  Manitoba,  etc. 


Some  cold  bright  winter  morning  when  first 
we  step  out  into  the  frost,  we  hear  a  pleasing 
mellow  whistle,  and  see  several  birds  resembling 
Robins  glide  up  into  the  apple  tree  or  the  clump 
of  spruces  in  the  front  yard.     Investigation  re- 


imply  that  the  spruces  in  the  northern  forests 
are  not  bearing  the  normal  crop  of  cones,  and 
that  this  is  one  of  the  seasons,  occurring  only 
about  once  every  half  dozen  years  or  so,  when 
there   will   be   a   notable   influx   into  the  United 


Drawing  by  R,   I 


A  bird  that  lo 


PINE  GROSBEAK  I !  nat.  size) 
;  the  great  pine  forests  of  Canada  and  the  United  States 


veals  that  there  are  about  a  dozen  of  them,  mov- 
ing about  in  rather  a  sedate  and  deliberate 
manner.  Several  are  on  the  ground,  the  rest 
scattered  about  in  the  nearby  trees,  perhaps  bit- 
ing into  frozen  apples,  or  at  work  on  the  ever- 
green cones ;  in  either  case  trying  to  get  at  the 
seeds  encased  within.  Most  of  them  are  dark 
gray,  but  one  or  two  look  pinkish  in  the  morn- 
ing sunshine.  A  rather  rare  treat  is  ours,  a  visit 
from  those  nomads  of  the  cold  North,  the  Pine 
Grosbeaks. 

The   sight   is   of    some    significance.      It    may 


States  of  Canadian  winter  birds.  Probably  the 
Crossbills  and  Redpolls  will  also  be  seen,  with 
the  accompanying  flight  of  the  fierce  Goshawks, 
which  prey  ujjon  them,  also  the  Northern  Shrike, 
and  other  northern  birds.  There  is  an  added  in- 
centive now  for  winter  otitings,  which  will  pay 
dividends  in  health  and  vigor  through  getting 
away  from  poorly  ventilated  indoors.  Somehow 
there  is  a  peculiar  charm  about  these  birds  from 
the  northern  wilds  which  make  no  account  of  the 
fierce  cold. 

During  one  such  winter  some  friends  of  mine 


FINCHES 


discovered  a  Pine  (irosbeak  by  a  roadside  unable 
to  fly.  owing  to  a  slight  injury  to  the  wing,  and 
took  it  home.  The  wing  soon  healed,  and  the 
bird,  a  young  male,  became  very  tame.  Fre- 
quently it  was  released  from  the  cage  and  would 
fly  about  the  room,  alighting  on  the  persons  of  its 
benefactors  to  eat  seeds,  crumbs,  or  tender  leaves 
such  as  lettuce.  In  spring  it  had  a  pretty  warbled 
song.  I  saw  it  in  late  summer  when  it  was 
molting  and  had  lost  most  of  its  tail-feathers. 

One  year  a  flock  of  these  interesting  birds 
visited  my  garden  daily  from  the  middle  of  Janu- 
ary  to  early  March.  They  devoted  themselves 
mostly  to  the  maple  seeds  on  the  ground  under 
those  trees.  I  swept  off  the  snow  for  them,  and 
thus  secured  their  daily  return.  It  was  most 
entertaining  to  watch  them  twirl  the  winged 
seeds  in  their  bills  and  bite  out  the  kernels.  They 
are  also  partial  to  sumac,  mountain  ash.  or  other 
trees  which  bear  and  hold  berries,  and  are  not 
above  eating  some  buds,  of  which  surely  there 
are  enough. 

In  common  with  the  Crossbills  this  species  is 
said    to   breed   very   early,   even    when    there    i 
snow,  but  like  them  also  it  is  probably  irregular 
in  this  respect,  as  nests  have  been  found  in  sum- 
mer. Herbert  K.  Job. 

In  western  North  America  are  several  varieties 
of  the  Pine  Grosbeak.  The  Rocky  Mountain 
Pine  Grosbeak  [Pinicola  ciiiiclcalor  inoiitana  ) 
lives  in  the  Rocky  Mountains  from  west  central 
Alberta,  Idaho,  and  Montana  to  northern  New 
Mexico.  The  California  Pine  Grosbeak  {Pini- 
cola cnnclcator  calif ornica)  breeds  in  the  central 
Sierra  Nevadas.  in  California.  The  Alaska  Pine 
Grosbeak  (Pnticola  oiitclditor  ahiscriisis  )  lirceds 


from  northwestern  Alaska  and  northwestern 
Alackenzie  to  northern  Washington  and  winters 
south  to  eastern  British  Columbia  and  Montana. 
The  Kodiak  Pine  Grosbeak  (Pinicola  cnnclcator 
flauiinitla)  is  a  bird  of  southern  Alaska  coming 
south  in  winter  along  the  coast  to  British  Co- 
lumbia. The  differences  between  these  western 
forms  and  between  them  and  the  comnmn  Pine 
Grosbeak  are  trifling  —  a  little  larger  or  a  little 
smaller  in  size,  a  shade  darker  or  a  shade  lighter 
in  coloration. 


Phnto  by  H.  K.  Jub 


I  Uuting  Pub.  Co. 


PINE  GROSBEAK 
In  Mr.  Job's  garden 

The  economic  status  of  the  Pine  Grosbeaks  is 
as  nearly  neutral  as  that  of  any  bird  could  be 
They  do  no  particular  good  beyond  the  possible 
distribution  of  seeds  of  valuable  trees  and,  on  the 
other  hand,  the  few  buds  they  eat  from  the  ever- 
green and  shade  trees  do  not  amount  to  much. 
Most  of  their  food  consists  of  buds  from  pine, 
spruce,  and  tamarack  trees,  the  berries  of  the 
Mrginia  juniper  and  the  mountain  ash,  and  the 
seeds  of  the  maples. 


PURPLE   FINCH 


Carpodacus   purpureas  purpureas    (Ginclin) 

A.   O.    U.    Number    =;i7      .See   Color   Plate   7f. 


Other  Names. —  Purple  Linnet  ;  I'lirple  Grll^l>ea^;  ; 
Red   Linnet;   Gray   Linnet    (immature  and    female). 

General  Description. —  Length,  6;<j  inches.  Male, 
pinkisli-purple  and  brown  ;  female,  olive-grayish  above, 
and  white  below,  conspicuously  streaked  above  and 
below.  Bill,  shorter  than  head,  conical,  and  thick ; 
tail,  about  ^i  length  of  wing,  deeply  einarginate. 

Color. —  Adult  Male:  Crown,  deep  wine-purple 
(more  crimson  in  summer)  ;  rump,  jialer.  more  pinkish 
wine-purple:    back    and    shoulders,    reddish-brown    or 


wine-purplish,  streaked  with  darker:  wings  and  tail, 
dusky  with  light  brownish-red  or  light  brown  edgings, 
the  middle  and  greater  coverts,  broadly  tipped  with  dull 
wine-purple  or  light  brownish-red  :  eye  and  ear  regions 
dusky  brownish-red;  rest  of  head,  together  with  front 
and  lateral  under  parts,  pinkish  wine-purple;  abdomen, 
anal  region,  and  under  tail-coverts,  white ;  flanks 
usually  streaked  with  brown,  and  longer  under  tail- 
coverts  rarely  marked  with  narrow  streaks  of  dusky. 
Adult  Fem.^le:     Above,  olive  or  olive-grayish    (more 


6 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


olivaceous  in  winter),  streaked  with  dusky  and,  to  a 
less  extent,  with  whitish;  wings  and  tail,  dusky  with 
light  olive  or  olive-grayish  edgings;  a  hroad  stripe  of 
olive  on  side  of  head,  and  a  more  broken  stripe  or 
patch  of  the  same  on  sides  of  throat;  ear  and  cheek 
regions,  mostly  whitish,  streaked  with  olive ;  under 
parts,  white  (tinged  with  buff  in  winter)  broadly 
streaked  with  olive,  except  on  abdomen,  anal  region, 
and  under  tail-coverts,  the  streaks  distinctly  wedge- 
shaped  or  triangular. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest:     Usually  placed  in  conifers; 


a  frail  open-work  structure  of  grass,  rootlets,  bark 
strips,  vegetable  fibers,  thickly  lined  with  hair ; 
resembles  a  Chipping  Sparrow's  nest,  but  larger.  Eggs  : 
4  to  6,  dull  greenish-blue  spotted  with  shades  of  brown, 
black,  and  lilac. 

Distribution. —  Eastern  North  America;  breeding 
from  Pennsylvania  (especially  in  mountains),  northern 
New  Jersey,  Connecticut,  southern  Ontario,  northern 
Illinois,  Minnesota,  and  North  Dakota,  north  to  more 
eastern  British  provinces,  Hudson  Bay,  Manitoba ;  in 
winter  south  to  Gulf  coast. 


The  haunts  of  the  Purple  Finch  are  the  low 
green  forests,  not  the  denser  portions,  but  rather 
the  open  woods  and  swamps  wliere  firs  and 
cedars    are   nunierous.      He   is  one   of   the   con- 


C'lurtesy  of  Am.  Mus.  Nat.  Hist. 
PORPLE  FINCH  C.  nat.  size) 
From  the  top  of  a  balsam  or  a  spruce  he  delivers  his  song 

spicuous  birds  of  such  a  neighborhood.  From  the 
top  of  a  balsam  or  a  spruce  he  delivers  his  song 
—  a  rapid,  easily  flowing,  melodious  warble,  re- 
sembling in  a  measure  that  of  the  Warbling  Virco 
but  more  variable  in  character.  Sometimes  when 
overcome  with  emotion  he  launches  into  the  air 
with  vibrating  wings,  rising  upward  and  upward, 
melody  pouring  from  his  throat  like  a  torrent 
down  a  mountain  side,  until  he  has  reached  an 
altitude  of  two  or  three  hundred  feet,  when  with 
outstretched  wings  he  descends  in  wide  circles 


to  the  summit  of  the  very  tree  from  which  he 
started.  Occasionally  this  impassioned  outbreak 
comes  with  such  suddenness  as  to  startle  anyone 
who  may  be  nearby. 

Often  he  may  be  seen  dancing  about  a  female 
on  the  limbs  of  a  tree  or  on  the  ground.  His 
wings  will  be  fully  extended  and  quivering,  his 
crest  standing  as  high  as  possible,  his  tail  spread, 
and  the  bright  feathers  of  the  rump  raised  in  the 
air.  During  this  performance  he  gives  voice 
softly  and  sweetly  to  his  melodious  warble.  Pres- 
ently, apparently  overcome  by  his  emotion,  he 
closes  his  wings  and  flies  to  a  neighboring  tree  — 
but  in  a  short  time  he  repeats  his  antics. 

In  addition  to  his  song,  he  has  a  sharp  call- 
note,  pip,  uttered  while  flying,  and  another, 
chip  dice,  used  when  feeding.  The  immature 
males,  which  look  like  the  females,  sing  almost 
as  well  as  the  full-plumaged  males.  Several  ob- 
servers have  stated  that  the  female  sings,  but  not 
as  sweetly  as  the  male. 

In  western  North  America  we  find  in  the  val- 
leys the  California  Purple  Finch  (Carpodacus 
piirpiirciis  califoniiciis)  and  on  the  mountain 
slopes  Cassin's  Purple  Finch  ( Carpodacus  cas- 
stni).  The  California  Purple  Finch  is  about  the 
same  size  as  the  eastern  bird,  but  the  red  is  bright 
rosy  instead  of  wine  color.  The  Cassin's  Finch 
is  similar  to  the  California  but  duller  in  colora- 
tion and  he  is  larger  by  about  an  inch. 

The  scientific  name  given  to  this  group  of 
birds  is  very  expressive  of  a  bad  habit  indulged 
in  by  them.  Carpodacus  is  from  the  Greek,  and 
translated  into  English  means  "  fruit-biting." 
When  the  trees  are  budding  they  do  consider- 
able harm  in  the  peach  and  cherry  orchards  by 
eating  the  buds.  Later  they  have  been  found 
feeding  on  green-  cherries.  In  the  winter  any 
seed-bearing  tree  will  furnish  them  with  a  meal. 
Though  they  habitually  feed  in  trees,  they  often 
destroy  the  seeds  of  noxious  weeds.  A  bird  of 
this  species  was  watched  with  a  glass  while 
feeding  in  a  thicket  of  giant  ragwood.  In  three 
minutes  he  ate  fifteen  seeds. 


FINCHES 


HOUSE  FINCH 


Carpodacus   mexicanus   frontalis    (.S"(7r) 


Other  Names. —  Crimson-frontctl  Finch  ;  Red-headed 
Linnet :   Linnet :   Burion  ;  Red-liead. 

General  Description. —  Length.  5'..  inches.  L^pper 
parts,  brownish-gray  :  under  parts,  white  streaked  with 
brown.  Bill,  shorter  than  head,  conical,  and  thick; 
tail,    about    -54    length    of    wing,    nearly    even. 

Color. — Adult  Male:  Forehead  (broadly),  broad 
stripe  above  the  ear  (e.xtending  from  forehead  to  back 
of  head),  check  region,  throat  (sometimes  upper  part  of 
chest  also),  and  rump,  bright  red;  rest  of  upper  parts, 
hair-brown  tinged  with  red ;  the  wings  and  tail,  dusky 
with  pale  grayish  brown  and  brownish  gray  edgings ; 
under  parts  ( e.xcept  throat,  etc.)  dull  u'hitish.  thickly 
streaked  %cith  hair-brown,  the  breast  sometimes  tinged 
with  pale  red ;  bill,  dark  horn-brownish ;  iris,  brown. 
Adl'lt  Fem.\le:  Similar  to  the  adult  male,  but  without 
any  red,  that  of  the  upper  parts  replaced  by  the  general 


hair-hrown,  that  of  throat,  etc.,  by  streaks  of  white  and 
.grayish  brown,  like  rest  of  inider  parts. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Xest  :  Usually  about  houses, 
but  located  anywhere  in  trees,  bushes,  sagebrush,  hay 
stacks,  old  boxes,  tin  cans,  but  always  near  water;  care- 
lessly or  compactly  constructed  of  any  handy  material, 
grass,  string,  paper,  rags,  straw,  bark  strips,  or  plant 
fibers.  Eggs  :  3  to  6,  bluish  white  or  pale  greenish  blue, 
sparingly  marked  with  spots  and  lines  of  sepia  or  black; 
rarely  unmarked. 

Distribution. —  Western  Lhiited  States  and  northern 
Mexico;  north  to  southern  Wyoming,  southern  Idaho, 
and  Oregon  ;  south  to  Tamaulipas,  Nuevo  Leon,  north- 
ern Chihuahua,  northern  Sonora,  and  northern  Lower 
California;  east  to  western  border  of  the  Great  Plains 
( middle  Texas  to  western  Kansas  and  southeastern 
Wyoming). 


The  House  Finch  or  Red-headed  T.innet 
through  many  parts  of  the  West  is  the  com- 
monest bird  about  the  dooryard.  It  is  even  more 
abundant  and  more  familiar  than  the  Robin 
through  the  northern  .States.  It  is  especially  fond 
of  nesting  in  vines  about  the  porch,  a  cypress 
hedge,  or  any  favorable  place  not  far  from  the 
house.  The  bird  is  so  familiar  and  alnmdant 
through  parts  of  California  and  it  has  such  a 
strong  taste  for  the  fruits  ])lantcd  by  man,  that 
Red-head  and  his  wife  are  often  regarded  as  a 
nuisance.  However,  if  a  person  is  willing  to  trade 
his  cherries,  fio-s.  and  other  fruit  for  bright  bird 


nuisic  and  companionslii]),  the  Linnet  is  willing 
to  give  full  value  for  all  the  fruit  he  takes. 

While  studying  birds  at  Tucson,  .\rizona,  in 
the  spring  of  1910,  we  fotmd  the  House  Finch 
one  of  the  commonest  residents.  W^e  tised  to 
watch  a  pair  daily  through  the  \'irginia  creeper 
that  shaded  our  porch  and  window.  There  were 
the  remains  of  two  old  nests,  one  at  the  corner 
of  the  porch  and  one  in  front  of  the  window. 

One  morning  early,  we  saw  the  male  and 
female  looking  at  the  nest  bv  the  window.  He 
of  the  Red-head  turned  ardund  and  around  on 
the  remains  of  the  old  nest  ;is  if  saving,  "  Come 


HOUSE   FINCH 
raaoy  places  he  is  regarded  i 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


on ;  we  can  fix  this  up.  We  can  add  a  little  to  it 
and  have  a  modern  house."  But  this  did  not 
suit  the  lady,  for  she  turned  and  flew  away  in 
disgust  and  he  followed.  Yet  in  a  little  while, 
they  were  back  again  discussing  the  same  ques- 
tion. We  saw  the  wife  take  hold  of  one  of  the 
old  strings  as  if  she  thought  it  might  be  a  good 
idea  to  use  it  in  the  new  home.  At  least,  it 
would  save  a  little  hunting.  And,  indeed,  that 
is  just  what  they  did.  They  built  a  new  nest 
about  six  feet  away.  Occasionally  when  they  got 
tired  of  hunting  straws  and  strings  for  the  new 
house,  they  pulled  a  little  out  of  the  old  nest 
until  the  last  straw  was  used. 

Out  in  San  Clemente  Island  off  the  southern 
coast  of  California,  we  found  House  Finches 
were  very  numerous  about  the  sheep  camp. 
There  were  no  trees  in  which  they  could  nest,  so 
their  homes  were  found  in  every  odd  corner 
about  the  sheds.  I  counted  about  forty  nests, 
some  old,  and  many  new  ones  containing  eggs. 
The  door  of  the  blacksmith  shop  was  tied  open 
and  in  behind  this  I  found  a  nest  wedged  and 
resting  on  an  inch  strij).  A  House  Finch  was 
sitting  on  five  eggs.  Had  the  door  been  untied, 
the  nest  would  have  fallen  to  the  ground.  I 
found  another  nest  in  an  old  can  that  was  hung 
against  the  wall.  On  nearly  every  beam  and 
bracket  in  the  sheep  sheds,  was  a  Linnet's  home. 
Some  of  these,  I  could  see,  had  been  used  over 
and  over  again,  the  bird,  of  course,  remodeling 
or  building  a  little  on  the  old  home.  The  birds 
used  the  material  closest  at  hand.  Many  of  the 
nests  were  made  of  wool  that  had  been  thrown 
about  on  the  floor.  The  only  fruit  about  the 
island  was  that  of  the  cactus  and  this  seemed  to 
satisfy  the  Linnets.  Whenever  a  sheep  was 
killed  and  the  Mexicans  hung  the  fresh  meat  out 
in  the  open,  the  Linnets  took  their  share.  I  saw 
where  all  the  meat  had  been  picked  from  several 
bones  that  were  hanging  up. 

WlLLIA.M    L.    FiNLE'i'. 


There  are  several  varieties  of  the  House  Finch 
south  of  the  United  States  and  Mexican  border. 
North  of  the  boundary  is  one  local  form,  the 
San  Clemente  House  Finch  ( Carpodacus  mexi- 
canits  dementis)  found  in  the  Santa  Barbara 
Islands,  California,  and  darker  in  coloration  than 
the  House  Finch. 

Observations  in  orchards  show  that  in  the  fruit 
season,  the  House  Finch  is  not  backward  in  tak- 
ing what  it  considers  its  share  of  the  crop,  and 
as  it  spends  much  of  its  time  there,  field  obser- 
vations alone  would  lead  to  the  conclusion  that 
fruit  was  its  principal  article  of  diet. 

Examination  of  stomach  contents  proves  that 
such  is  not  the  case,  and  when  we  find  how  small 
is  the  relative  percentage  of  fruit  eaten,  it  seems 
strange  that  its  fruit-eating  proclivities  should 
have  attracted  so  much  attention.  But  it  must 
be  borne  in  mind  that  the  bird  is  wonderfully 
abundant,  which  is  a  primary  condition  under 
which  any  species  may  become  injurious.  More- 
over, it  must  be  noted  that  not  all  of  the  fruit 
destroyed  is  eaten.  Only  one  peck  from  the 
strong  bill  is  necessary  to  break  the  skin  of  the 
pear,  peach,  or  cherry,  and  the  fruit  is  spoiled : 
the  House  Finch  by  no  means  invariably  visits 
the  same  individual  fruit  a  second  time  to  finish 
it,  but  often  attacks  a  fresh  one  at  each  meal. 
This  is  proved  by  the  large  number  of  half-eaten 
fruits,  either  on  the  tree  or  on  the  ground  be- 
neath. 

While  the  strong,  conical  beak  of  the  House 
Finch  is  a  very  effective  instrument  in  attacking 
fruit,  this  is  evidently  not  the  use  for  which 
nature  primarily  designed  it.  Hard-billed  birds 
are  supposed  to  feed  on  seeds  and  that  this 
species  is  no  exception  has  been  proved  by  ex- 
aminations of  contents  of  over  1200  stomachs. 
Seeds  of  plants,  mostly  those  of  noxious  weeds, 
constitute  about  seven-eighths  of  its  food  for 
the  vear  and  in  some  months  amount  to  much 
more. 


CROSSBILL 

Loxia  curvirostra  minor  {Brclun) 


A,    O.   U.   Number  5.;i 

Other  Names. — American  Crossbill ;  Red  Crossbill ; 
Common   Crossbill. 

General  Description. —  Length,  6  inches.  Male,  dull 
red  :  female,  grayish-olive.  Bill,  with  the  tips  crossed 
in  adults  ;  wings,  long  and  pointed ;  tail,  short,  narrow, 
and  deeply  forked. 


See   Color   Plate  77 

Color. — Adult  Male:  General  color,  dull  red  (vary- 
ing from  dull  brownish  scarlet  or  almost  orange- 
chrome  in  summer  to  a  hue  approaching  dragon's  blood 
red  in  winter),  the  red  brightest  on  rump,  dullest  on 
back  and  shoulders,  where  the  feathers  have  dusky 
brownish   centers;   middle   of   abdomen,   light   grayish; 


Cou.t.-sy  i.f   ti...  N.' 


Plate  77 


CROSSBILL     /,"'/. f  w, /;/,'-.  ,'r,,    nnn<'i 
WHITE-WINGED   CROSSBILL    Ij'ru,  l,uri,,,l,Tn  Ul 
All  j  nat.  size 


FINCHES 


bill,  horn  color,  more  dusky  at  tips ;  iris,  brown. 
Adult  Female:  The  red  of  the  adult  male  replaced  by 
grayish-olive  or  olive-grayish  overlaid  with  bright  yel- 
lowish olive  or  dull  saffron-yellow,  this  brighter  color 
always  evident  on  rump  and  sometimes  prevalent  over 
under  parts  (except  abdomen  and  under  tail-coverts); 
wings  and  tail,  less  dark,  more  grayish  dusky.  Young: 
Wings  and  tail  as  in  adult  female ;  upper  parts,  pale 
grayish  mi.xed  or  tinged  with  olive  on  back  and 
shoulders  (sometimes  almost  white  on  head,  neck,  and 
rump)  everywhere  broadly  streaked  witli  dusky; 
beneath,  whitish,  usually  tinged  with  olive,  conspicu- 
ously streaked  with  dusky  or  dusky  olive. 

Nest    and    Eggs. —  Nest  :      Placed,    like    the   White- 
winged  Crossbill's,  in  conifers,  usually  within  jo  feet  of 


the  ground;  outside  "wall"  constructed  of  evergreen 
twigs,  shreds  of  bark,  rootlets  with  a  thick  lining  of 
moss,  leaves,  grass,  cottony  fibers  well  felted  together, 
and  generally  some  green  bits  of  hemlock  or  cedar 
tips.  Eggs  :  3  or  4,  pale  greenish,  specked  and  spotted 
with  shades  of  brown  and  purplish  gray. 

Distribution. —  Northern  and  eastern  North  America, 
breeding  in  coniferous  forest  districts  from  southern 
Alleghenies  in  northern  Georgia  (sporadically  toward 
coast  in  Maryland,  Virginia,  etc.),  Michigan,  etc.,  to 
Nova  Scotia,  to  Fort  Anderson  in  the  interior,  and  to 
western  Alaska,  and  southward  through  Pacific  coast 
district  to  western  Oregon  ;  in  winter  irregularly  south- 
ward to  South  Carolina  (vicinity  of  Charleston), 
Lnuisiana,  Nevada,  etc. ;  casuallv  to  the  Bermudas. 


The  Crossbill  is  the  only  American  bird  with 
the  curious  crossing  of  the  bills.  No  group  of 
water  birds  or  parrots  or  ducks  or  tropica!  birds 
of  any  kind  have  crossed  bills.  Only  this  one 
genus  of  Lo.via  in  the  Finch  family  is  so  pecul- 
iarly fashioned.     Because  of  this  singular  char- 


formed  "  bill.  The  process  consists  in  inserting 
the  closed  bill  into  the  side  of  the  cone,  and  then 
opening  the  mandibles  with  a  movement  which 
tears  out  the  scales  and  thus  leaves  exposed  the 
seeds  at  their  bases.  These  seeds  are  then 
seized  by  the  peculiarly  shaped,  scoop-like  tongue. 


-  "^^^ 


Drawing  by  R.  I.  Brasher 

CROSSBILL  (1  nat.  size) 
Don't  pity  this  bird  because  of  his  crossed  bill;  it  's  exactly  what  he  needs 


acteristic,  they  are  among  the  most   interesting 
birds  in  the  American  avifauna. 

All-wise  man  has  been  known  to  point  to  the 
Crossbill  as  one  of  the  "  blunders  "  of  Nature, 
and  to  sympathize  with  the  poor  creature  thus 
"  deformed."  If  such  an  observer  had  taken  the 
pains  to  do  a  little  real  observing,  he  would  have 
discovered  that  the  crossed  hills  are  really  a 
special  and  very  clever  adaptation  to  the  bird's 
feeding  habits.  For  an  important  part  of  the 
Crossbill's  diet  consists  of  pine-cone  seeds,  and 
these   it    rcadilv   obtains   bv   means   of    its   "  de- 


By  this  operation  the  bird  will  cut  an  apple  to 
pieces  in  a  few  seconds  to  get  at  the  seeds.  The 
mandibles  are  operated  by  muscles  so  powerful 
that  the  bird  will  splinter  solid  wood  with  them  ; 
and  they  can  be  closed  tightly  enough  to  hold 
the  smallest  seed. 

Many  of  the  careful  bird  observers  of  the 
northern  States  have  never  seen  a  Crossbill. 
This  is  largely  a  matter  of  accident,  the  bird 
student  not  happening  to  be  at  the  same  place  as 
the  bird,  whose  wandering  habits  are  very  un- 
certain.    No  one  can  expect  to  go  into  any  piece 


10 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


of  cone-bearing  forest  and  find  Crossbills ;  there 
may  not  be  a  Crossbill  within  a  hundred  miles. 

Some  observations  have  been  made  south  of 
Canada  in  the  summer  time  in  most  unexpected 
localities,  but  it  is  from  November  to  March  that 
flocks  of  from  a  few  dozen  to  a  few  hundred 
roam  about  from  forest  to  forest,  and  occa- 
sionally fly  about  towns  where  coniferous  trees 
are  scattered  or  where  small  frozen  apples  and 
hard  rose  seeds  tempt  the  birds  to  a  side  dish. 
Dr.  Merrill  reports  them  as  common  at  Fort 
Sherman,  Idaho,  where  they  can  be  seen  every 
month  of  the  year  and  are  as  tame  as  English 
Sparrows.  But  in  the  east  the  eccentric  wander- 
ings of  the  flocks  have  made  their  visitations 
events  of  importance  to  bird  observers. 

Their  kimp-kimp  or  pip-pip,  somewhat  like  a 
chicken  peeping,  is  the  conversational  chatter  that 
can  be  heard  while  a  few  dozen  birds  are  break- 
ing up  the  cones  far  up  in  the  trees.  The  song, 
given  only  during  the  breeding  season,  is  said 
by  Gerald  Thayer  to  be  "  a  series  of  somewhat 
goldfinch-like  trills  and  whistles." 

Alfred  Newton  in  his  Dictionary  of  Birds  says 
of  the  process  of  feeding  on  cone  seeds :  "  For- 
tunately the  birds  soon  become  tame  in  confine- 
ment, and  a  little  patience  will  enable  an  atten- 
tive observer  to  satisfy  himself  as  to  the  process, 
the  result  of  which  at  first  seems  almost  as  un- 
accountable as  that  of  a  clever  conjuring  trick." 

European  Crossbills  have  been  imported  into 
America,  but  it  is  not  known  if  the  stock  has 
continued.  The  largest  of  the  Crossbills  is  the 
Mexican  Crossbill  ( Toxia  curvirostra  sfrick- 
landi)  whose  northern  area  extends  up  into 
the  higher  mountains  of  Arizona  and  New 
Mexico.  These  birds  are  about  an  inch  longer 
than  the  eastern  variety.  After  the  breeding 
season  the  Mexican  variety  comes  down  out  of 
the  mountains.  Dr.  Mearns  found  them  one 
year  among  the  most  commonly  seen  birds  of 
Arizona,  flying  about  at  all  times  at  the  watering 
places  and  springs. 


The  White-winged  Crossbill  (Loxia  Icucop- 
tcra)  is  similar  in  general  appearance  to  the 
American  Crossbill  but  somewhat  larger,  the 
red  of  the  male  rose-red  or  even  crimson,  and 
the  wings  in  both  sexes,  old  and  young,  with 
two  conspicuous  white  bars.  (See  Color  Plate 
JJ.)  It  is  less  known  than  the  other  Crossbills, 
and  ranges  a  little  farther  north  toward  the 
arctic  seas.  It  seems  to  be  somewhat  less  com- 
mon than  the  Red  Crossbill.  The  flocks  seem  a 
little  more  active  and  shy,  are  apt  to  remain  in 
the  tops  of  trees  if  food  is  plenty  there,  and  fly 
about  calling  their  cheep,  cheep  loudly  and  less 
sedately  than  the  Red  Crossbill.  Many  years 
will  sometimes  elapse  before  numerous  flocks 
will  be  seen  in  the  northern  States  in  winter. 
Then  the  conspicuous  white  wing-bars  and  the 
rosy  red  males  will  make  their  appearance  for 
a  few  winter  weeks.  Toward  spring  its  song 
has  sometimes  been  heard  in  the  wandering 
flocks.  Elon  H.  Eaton  says  that  it  is  "  a  beauti- 
ful song,  perhaps  more  melodious  than  that  of 
the  Red  Crossbill,  a  low,  soft  warbling,  suggest- 
ing somewhat  the  song  of  the  Redpoll."  Its 
nidification  is  similar  to  the  Common  Crossbill's. 
The  eggs  are  light  blue,  spotted  around  the  large 
end  with  sepia,  black,  and  lilac ;  they  number 
three  to  five  and  are  laid  in  the  winter  or  early 
spring  when  the  ground  is  covered  with  snow. 
L.  Nelson  Nichols. 

The  Crossbills  are  of  little  importance  from  an 
economic  standpoint.  Very  little  is  known  of 
their  summer  food ;  they  probably  eat  some  in- 
sects. On  their  winter  visits  to  the  United 
States  they  show  their  fondness  for  the  seeds  of 
the  arbor  vitse,  tamarack,  various  spruces,  firs, 
and  pines.  The  peculiar  structure  and  strength 
of  their  bills  enable  them  to  tear  open  the 
strongest  and  toughest  cones  and  extract  the 
seeds.  Occasionally  they  injure  an  evergreen  by 
cutting  the  twigs  or  destroying  the  terminal 
buds,  but  as  a  rule  this  damage  does  not  amount 
to  much. 


GRAY-CROWNED   ROSY  FINCH 

Leucosticte   tephrocotis   tephrocotis   Swainson 

A.   O.  U.   Number  5^4 


Other  Name. —  Gray-crowned    Leucosticte. 

General  Description. —  Length,  7'4  inches.  Body, 
brown;  crown,  gray.  Bill,  shorter  than  head;  wings, 
long  and  pointed ;  tail,  about  Vi  length  of  wing,  and 
forked ;  legs  short.     Generally  found  on  the  ground. 


Color. — Adult  Male  in  Summer:  Forehead  and 
part  of  crown,  black;  nasal  tufts,  grayish  white;  sides 
of  crown  (from  above  eyes  backward)  and  whole  of 
back  of  head,  plain  light  ash-gray,  very  strongly  con- 
trasted   with    the   contiguous   brown    color   of    the   ear 


FINCHES 


regions  and  hindneck  ;  whole  side  of  head  below  eyes 
(whole  of  ear  and  cheek  regions),  neck,  back,  shoulders, 
and  under  parts,  chestnut-brown,  darker  on  throat, 
lighter  on  back  where  indistinctly  streaked  with  dusky; 
feathers  of  ruinp  and  fianks.  together  with  upper  and 
under  tail-coverts,  broadly  and  abruptly  tipped  with 
pink ;  the  remaining  portion  of  the  feathers  dusky, 
especially  on  the  rump  and  upper  tail-coverts ;  wings 
and  tail,  dusky  ;  the  lesser  and  middle  coverts,  broadly 
tipped  with  pink;  the  greater  coverts,  primary  coverts, 
and  part  of  wing  quills  edged  with  pink  or  light 
scarlet,  tail-feathers  also  with  lighter  edgings  but  with 
less  of  pink;  bill  entirely  l.ilack.  Adult  Male  in 
Winter:  Similar  to  suninier  male  but  shoulders  and 
space  between  with  distinct  edgings  of  lighter  brown, 
feathers  of  breast,  etc.,  with  narrow,  pale  margins;  the 
pink    markings,    especially    on    wings   and    flanks,    of   a 


softer  hue,  and  the  bill  yellowish  with  dusky  tip. 
Adult  Fem.\le:  Similar  to  adult  male,  with  the  same 
seasonal  dilTerences  of  color,  but  averaging  paler  and 
duller. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest:  In  a  rocky  crevice  at  high 
altitudes;  constructed  of  grasses,  weed  stems,  lined 
with  fine  grass  and  a  few  feathers.  Eggs  :  3  to  5,  pure 
white,  sharp  pointed,  with  a  peculiar  fine  shell  tex- 
ture. 

Distribution. —  Interior  districts  of  North  America; 
breeding  on  higher  parts  (11,000-12,000  feet)  of  White 
Mountains  and  Sierra  Nevada,  southeastern  California, 
and  probably  also  northward ;  during  migration  east  to 
western  Nebraska,  eastern  Colorado,  Manitoba,  etc.; 
south  to  Colorado,  Utah,  etc. ;  west  to  Cascade  and 
Sierra  Nevada  ranges;  north  to  plains  of  the  Saskatch- 
ewan  (May). 


Amid  the  snowbank,  and  glaciers  of  western 
North  America  are  found  the  Rosy  I'^inches. 
They  are  optimistic  little  creatures  liviiiL;  the 
gospel  of  "  come  storm  or  sunshine  all  is  well." 
When  it  is  cold  and  stormy  they  will  seek  out 
some  sheltered  spot  and  quietly  wait  for  better 
weather.  With  the  coming  of  the  sun.  out  they 
scatter  again,  ju.-t  as  happy  as  ever.  Where  the 
vegetation  is  mostly  moss  and  lichens  and  low- 
stunted  spruce  and  when  the  weather  is  like  the 
typical  month  of  ]\Iarch  these  birds  start  their 
house-keeping. 

Hepburn's  Rosy  Finch  (Lciicoslirtc  tcpliro- 
cotis  littoralis)  is  similar  to  the  <  Irav-crdwned 
but  the  gray  of  the  crown  extends  down  the  sides 
of  the  head ;  in  typical  examples  the  entire 
head  except  a  black  frontal  patch  and  the  throat 
are  light  ash-gray.  It  nests  above  the  timber- 
line  in  Alaska  and  in  winter  comes  south  to 
Nevada.  Utah,  and  Colorado,  and  along  the 
Pacific  coast  to  Kodiak,  Sitka,  and  \'ancouver 
Island. 


The  Black  Rosy  Finch  ( Lciicostictc  atrata) 
breeds  in  the  mountains  of  Idaho  and  winters  in 
Colorado  and  Utah.  It  is  a  little  smaller  than 
the  Grav-crowned  with  the  same  marking  on  the 
head,  but  the  bodv  is  brownish  black. 

The  Brown-c:ipped  Rosy  Finch  ( Lcucostictc 
aitstralis)  has  no  distinct  or  clear  grayish  mark- 
ings on  the  head.  It  breeds  above  the  timber- 
line  on  the  high  mountains  of  Colorado,  descend- 
ing to  the  valleys  and  plains  and  south  to  New 
Mexico  in  the  winter. 

The  food  of  the  Rosy  Finches  is  mainly  in- 
sects and  seeds  which  have  been  blown  to  the 
mountain  heights  by  the  storms.  They  hunt  for 
the  chilled  insects  and  the  seeds  along  the  edge 
of  the  melting  snows  and  they  may  be  seen  with 
their  feathers  fluffed,  their  faces  turned  toward 
the  wind,  busily  hopping  about  and  picking  up 
then-  food,  all  the  time  cheerily  chattering.  Occa- 
sionally one  will  take  shelter  behind  a  stone  or 
lump  of  snow  and  warm  his  toes  against  his 
warm  little  bodv. 


REDPOLL 

Acanthis  linaria  linaria  (  Liniunis) 

A     II     I',    Xumht-r    sj8      ."-le   Color    Plate   78 


Other  Names.— Redpoll  Linnet;  Common  Redpoll; 
Linnet;  Lintie;  Lesser  Redpoll:  Little  Redpoll;  Little 
Meatlowlark. 

General  Description. —  Length,  5'<  inches.  Upper 
parts,  grayish-brown  streaked  with  dusky  ;  under  parts, 
white  and  pink  or  buff:  red  cap.  Rill,  small,  conical, 
and  acute  ;  wings,  long  and  pointed  ;  tail,  long  and  deeply 
forked. 

Color. — Adult  Male  in  Breeding  Dress:  Forehead 
(narrowly),   dusky:    rr.^oi,   hrii/ht   /'i'/'/>.v-''i'(' ;    general 


color  of  remaining  upper  parts,  dark  grayish-brown  or 
sepia,  indistinctly  streaked  with  darker  and  with 
grayish-white ;  rump,  mixed  pink  and  grayish-white, 
broadly  streaked  with  dusky  ;  upper  tail-coverts,  grayish- 
brown  edged  with  paler ;  wings  and  tail,  dusky  grayish 
brown  ;  the  middle  and  greater  wing-coverts,  narrowly 
tipped  with  .grayish-white ;  chin  and  upper  portion  of 
throat,  dusky;  checks.  Imvcr  throat,  chest,  and  sides  of 
breast,  deep  peach-blossom  pink:  rest  of  under  parts, 
white,  the  sides,  flanks,  and  under  tail-coverts  broadly 


12 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


streaked  with  dusky.  Adult  Male  in  Winter  Plum- 
age: Much  Hghter  colored  than  in  summer,  the  pre- 
vaiHng  color  of  back,  shoulders,  and  hind  neck,  light 
buffy  grayish-brown,  distinctly  streaked  with  dusky;  the 
pink  of  chest,  etc..  paler  (rose  pink).  Adult  Female: 
Similar  to  the  male,  but  without  any  pink  or  red  on  the 
under  parts,  the  portions  so  colored  on  the  male  being 
pale  bufTy  or  whitish ;  the  seasonal  differences  exactly 
as  in  the  adult  male.  Young  :  No  red  on  crown,  the 
whole  crown  being  broadly  streaked  with  dusky  and 
pale  grayish  buffy;  sides  of  throat,  chest,  and  sides  of 
breast,  buffy  or  dull  buffy  whitish,  streaked  with  dusky. 


Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest  :  Placed  in  trees  or  bushes  ; 
bulky,  loosely  made  exteriorly  of  twigs  and  grasses, 
warmly  lined  with  feathers.  Eggs:  2  to  5,  pale  bluish 
green,  speckled  around  large  end  with  chestnut,  burnt- 
umber,  and  a   few   spots  of   black. 

Distribution. —  More  northern  portions  of  northern 
hemisphere  ;  breeds  southward  to  islands  in  Gulf  of  St. 
Lawrence ;  in  winter  south  to  more  northern  United 
States  generally,  irregularly  and  more  rarely  to  Vir- 
ginia, northern  Alabama,  southern  Ohio,  southern 
Indiana,  Kansas,  Colorado,  southeastern  Oregon,  coast 
of  Washington,  etc.;  casual  in  Bermudas. 


The  home  of  tlie  Redpoll  is  in  the  northland. 
There  he  rears  his  family  in  a  quiet  business-like 
wav.  This  accomplished  he  puts  on  his  rosy 
suit  and  sallies  forth  with  the  snow  for  a  vaca- 
tion. He  joins  others  of  his  own  kind  and  is 
rarely  found  except  in  flocks  of  twenty  to  fifty, 


and  longer ;  a  conversational  twitter,  used  when 
several  birds  are  feeding  together ;  and  a  ker- 
ivect,  very  much  like  the  long  plaintive  call  of 
the  Goldfinch  but  dififerent  in  tone. 

The   Redpoll   is  very  unsuspicious  and  often 
allows  a  person  to  approach  very  closely  without 


Drawing  by  R.  I.  Brashe 


REDPOLL  Ci  nat.  size  I 


and  sometimes  there  are  200  or  300.  While  on 
this  winter  tour  the  Redpolls  visit  and  mingle 
with  their  cousins  the  Crossbills  and  the  Gold- 
finches. 

When  he  is  at  home  the  Redpoll  has  little  time 
for  singing  —  only  indulging  in  a  faint  warbling 
or  twittering  —  but  with  the  throwing  off  of 
family  responsibility  he  proves  that  he  can  sing 
delightfully.  His  song  is  more  melodious  than 
that  of  the  Goldfinch ;  it  has  the  quality  of  the 
Hveet  call  of  the  Goldfinch  and  is  delivered  in 
the  manner  of  the  Goldfinch's  warble.  He  also 
has  at  least  four  distinct  call-notes:  a  loud  twit- 
tering call,  used  when  on  the  wing ;  a  long  buzz, 
not  unlike  one  note  of  the  Pine  Siskin  but  thinner 


taking  alarm.  Should  one  stand  still  near  where 
they  are  feeding  they  will  come  closer  and  closer 
as  they  feed  without  a  sign  of  fear. 

The  Greater  Redpoll  (Acanthis  linarla  ros- 
trafa)  is  a  resident  of  Greenland;  in  winter  he 
comes  south  through  Canada  to  northern  Illinois, 
Alichigan,  northern  Indiana,  southern  New  York 
and  Massachusetts.  He  looks  like  the  Common 
Redpoll  but  is  of  greater  size  and  has  a  relatively 
thicker  and  more  obtuse  bill.  ( See  Color  Plate 
-8.)  J.  Ellis  Burdick. 

Very  often  when  the  Crossbill  visits  us  there 
will  be  found  in  his  company  the  Redpoll.  After 
the  stronger  bird  has  torn  open  the  cones  the 


,  New  York  State  Mu 


Plate  78 


/fe/'r  CU 


Ctlli't  IfH^rVr. 


GOLDFINCH  Axtraaalinu-* 


FINCHES 


13 


otluT  will  pick  out  the  seeds.  He  also  attacks  a  large  extent  he  feeds  on  the  seeds  of  the 
cones  himself,  especially  those  of  the  tamarack  birches  and  alders.  He  also  eats  grass  seeds  and 
and  arbor  vitje,  but  not  always  successfully.     To      weed  seeds. 


EUROPEAN  GOLDFINCH 
Carduelis  carduelis  (Lininnis) 


Other  Names. —  Thistle  Finch;  Thistle  Bird. 

General  Description. —  Length,  5'  S  inches.  Body, 
brown;  wings  and  tail,  hlack ;  red  spot  on  head.  Bill, 
elongate,  conical,  and  acute ;  wings,  long  and  pointed ; 
tail,  rather  short  and  deeply  notched. 

Color. — Adults:  Fore  part  of  head,  all  round, 
crimson  ;  lores,  back  part  of  crown,  back  of  head  and 
neck,  and  bar  from  the  latter  halfway  across  side  of 
neck,  black;  rest  of  head,  white  tinged  with  brownish 
buff;  back,  shoulders,  and  rump,  plain  brown;  upper 
tail-coverts,  white  ;  wings  and  tail,  mostly  black ;  greater 
portion  of  greater  coverts,  basal  portion  of  outermost 
secondaries,  and  basal  half  or  more  of  exposed  portion 
of  outer  webs  of  primaries,  bright  lemon-yellow ; 
secondaries,  primaries,  and  middle  tail-feathers  tipped 
with  white,  the  inner  webs  of  side  tail-feathers,  also 
partly  white;  sides  of  breast,  sides,  and  flanks,  plain 
cinnamon-brown  or  wood-brown  ;  rest  of  under  parts 
white ;  bill,  whitish  tinged  with  flesh  color  or  lilac ; 
iris,  brown.     Young:     Wings  and  tail  as  in  adults,  but 


the  former  with  middle  and  greater  coverts  tipped  with 
pale  brownish,  forming  two  bands ;  no  red  on  head  nor 
black  on  head  or  neck;  crown  and  back  of  neck  light 
grayish  brown,  mottled  or  streaked  with  darker ;  the 
back  also  streaked  with  dusky ;  chin  and  throat,  whitish, 
the  latter  flecked  with  sooty  brown  ;  the  foreneck,  chest, 
and  breast,  mottled  or  spotted  with  the  same. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest  :  A  handsome  thick-walled 
structure  of  vegetable  down,  moss,  and  fine  grasses; 
the  few  noted  in  this  country  indicate  a  preference  for 
conifer  trees  as  a  site.  Ecgs  :  4  to  6,  more  cominonly 
5,  pale  greenish  or  bluish  white,  spotted  with  chestnut 
around  large  end. 

Distribution. —  Europe  in  general,  e.xcept  extreme 
northern  portions ;  south,  in  winter,  to  Palestine  and 
Egypt.  Introduced  into  the  northeastern  United  States 
and  naturalized  in  Cuba,  in  New  York  city  and 
vicinity,  and  Cincinnati,  Ohio ;  accidental  (?)  at  New 
Haven,  Connecticut,  near  Boston,  Worcester,  etc., 
Massachusetts,  Toronto,  Ontario,  etc. 


The  European  Goldfinch  is  well  known  all  over 
Europe  and  has  been  introduced  into  America. 
How  many  times  and  at  what  places  the  attempt 
has  been  made  to  Americanize  this  favorite  of 
Europeans  is  uncertain.  About  1872  it  was  in- 
troduced at  Cincinnati,  in  1878  at  Hoboken, 
about  1880  in  eastern  Massachusetts,  and  in  1886 
in  Cuba.  There  may  have  been  more  importa- 
tions. For  a  few  years  these  beatitiful  birds 
were  seen  in  the  vicinity  of  New  York  city.  In 
1900  they  were  seen  at  nest  building  in  Central 
Park.  Dr.  Chapman  saw  two  in  Englewood.  N. 
J.,  in  191 1,  but  records  are  very  rare.  There 
have  been  scattered  observations  in  Massachu- 
setts and  Connecticut.     In  1888  foiu'  birds  were 


seen  in  Toronto  and  in  1891)  one  bird  in  Ithaca, 
N.  Y.  A  German  who  knew  the  bird  as  the 
Distclfink  (Thistle  Finch)  is  confident  that  he 
saw  one  in  Chicago  in  iQii.  .'\bout  New  York 
city  they  had  formerly  been  seen  in  flocks  of 
.American  Goldfinches  with  which  their  manners 
and  customs  matched  perfectly.  It  would  seem 
that  this  cheery  and  attractive  little  bird  is  not  to 
become  as  common  as  the  English  Sparrow,  and 
"  more's  the  pity."  In  Europe  the  Goldfinch  has 
been  a  favorite  cage  bird  for  centuries.  So 
many  thousands  were  captured  in  Great  Britain 
alone  that  Parliament  had  to  take  action  for  the 
protection  of  the  bird.  But  it  seems  never  to 
have  been  as  common  again. 


;    Wild 
Salad- 


.\    ().   U.   Xi. 

Other  Names.—  Yellow-bird  ;  Thistle  Bird 
Canary  ;  (_'atnip  Bird  ;  Lettuce-bird  ;  .Shiner ; 
bird  ;  Beet  P>ird  :  .'\merican  Goldfinch. 

General  Description. —  Length.  5  inches.  Male  in 
summer  has  the  body  lemon-yellow  and  the  wings  and 
tail  black ;  male  in  winter  and  female  at  all  seasons 
have    the    upper    parts    olive-brownish    and    the    under 


GOLDFINCH 

Astragalinus  tristis  tristis    (Linnirus) 

;ee  Color  Plates   ;8,   ;ci 

parts  grayish-white  with  the  wings  and  tail  blackish. 
Rill,  small,  conical,  and  acute;  wings,  long  and  pointed; 
tail,   rather   short  and   forked ;   legs,  short. 

Color. — .'Kdult  M.m.e  in  Summer:  General  color 
pure  lemon  or  canary-yellow  ;  the  lores,  forehead,  and 
crown,  together  with  wings  (except  small  coverts)  and 
tail,  black;  tail-coverts,  middle  (sometimes  also  lesser) 


14 


BIRDS   OF  AMERICA 


wing-coverts,  tips  of  greater  coverts,  and  part  of  edges 
of  wings,  white;  bill,  orange  or  orange-yellow  tipped 
with  black;  iris,  brown.  Adult  Female  in  Summer: 
Above,  olive-brownish  or  grayish,  sometimes  tinged 
with  olive-greenish ;  the  wings  and  tail,  blackish  or 
dusky  marked  with  white  or  whitish,  much  as  in  the 
male ;  upper  tail-coverts,  pale  grayish  or  grayish-white ; 
under  parts,  dull  grayish-white  tinged  with  yellow, 
especially  in  the  front  and  on  the  sides,  sometimes 
entirely  soiled  yellow,  except  under  tail-coverts.  Adult 
Male  in  Winter:  Similar  to  the  adult  female  but 
wings  and  tail  deeper  black,  with  whitish  markings 
more  conspicuous.  Adult  Female  in  Winter  :  Similar 
to  the  summer  female,  but  more  lirownish.  Young: 
Somewhat  like  winter  adults,  but  much  browner,  all 
the  wing-markings,  pale  cinnamon,  the  plumage  gen- 
erallv  being  suffused  with  this  color. 


Nest  and  Eggs.— Nest:  Placed  in  forks  of  bush  or 
sapling,  sometimes  on  the  swaying  stalk  of  a  wild  black- 
berry, usually  within  5  feet  but  sometimes  30  feet  from 
the  ground ;  a  compact,  artistic  structure  of  felted 
plant  down,  mosses,  grass,  leaves,  bark  strips,  usually 
lined  with  thistledown  ;  build  later  than  any  other  birds, 
from  last  week  in  June  to  second  week' in  September; 
sometimes  reconstruct  old  Blackbird  or  other  nests,  the 
added  material  being  principally  a  heavy  lining  of 
down.  Egos:  3  to  6,  sets  of  5  and  6  being  common, 
pale  bluish  white,  unmarked. 

Distribution. —  United  States  and  more  southern 
British  provinces  east  of  Rocky  Mountains,  north  to 
Manitoba,  Ontario,  Quebec,  southern  Labrador,  and 
Newfoundland;  breeding  southward  to  the  middle  dis- 
tricts of  the  United  States ;  wintering  southward  to 
Gulf  coast. 


The  Goldfinch  is  one  of  the  most  inter- 
esting birds  of  American  life.  It  is  a  bird  the 
most  casual  observer  can  enthtise  over,  and  one 


yoimg  has  brought  forth  many  interesting  com- 
ments from  the  nature  writers.  Dr.  Chapman 
in  liis  Handbook  says  that  "  their  love  song  is 


Drawing  by  R.  I.  Brasher 

GOLDFINCH  (j  nat.  size) 
A  beautiful  little  fellow  with  jolly  manners  and  a  fine  canary-like  song 


that  the  bird  sttident  will  never  tire  raving  about. 
The  male  is  such  a  bright  yellow  bird  with  black 
wings  and  tail  that  he  readily  becomes  known  as 
the  Wild  Canary  in  any  community  where  he 
is  commonly  seen.  Then  its  habit  of  feeding 
about  where  people  go  to  and  fro,  scarcelv  heed- 
ing the  inquisitive  humans,  has  increased  the 
knowledge  of  the  bird.  But  when  the  sun  begins 
to  warm  the  earth  and  air,  and  summer  is  here, 
the  Goldfinch  is  then  in  his  ecstasy.  Swinging 
through  the  air,  its  pcr-cliic-o-rcc,  pcr-chic-o- 
ree  is  as  sweet  in  note  as  any  caged  Canary's. 
The  abandon  and  wild  delight  of  the  bird  at  this 
season  while  most  other  birds  are  feeding  their 


delivered  with  an  ecstasy  and  abandon  which 
carries  them  ofif  their  feet,  and  they  circle  over 
the  field  sowing  the  air  with  music."  After  most 
of  the  other  birds  are  through  with  their  nesting, 
and  all  of  the  others  have  already  begun,  the 
Goldfinch  gathers  his  thistledown  and  fine  grasses 
together  for  the  nest  in  a  berry  bush  or  some 
other  low  shaded  place  jtist  out  of  the  sun's  rays. 
The  pcr-chic-o-ree  changes  gradually  to  notes 
more  directly  personal  for  the  mate  and  young. 
Tic-o-rcc.  o-rcc.  o-rcc  and  many  variations  are 
heard.  There  are  those  who  insist  that  the 
male  calls  ba-by,  ba-bec  to  the  young  in  the 
nest.     Certainly  the  notes  are  as  sweet  and  in- 


Courtpsv  of  the  New  York  State  Museurt 


Plat 


e  79 


jfouij  ut&i^riiz  Yuerfei 


EVENING  GROSBEAK     Htspcriphonn  t.sp.Tlinii  vraprrlina  (W.  Coopoi 
All  i  nat.  siz» 


FINCHES 


15 


si -lent   a--  an\-  jiareiit   witli   such  a   tliroat  could 
utlcr. 

In  the  fall  the  males  turn  olive,  something  like 
the  females  and  immature.  They  Ljather  intn 
flocks,  a  few  dozen  or  a  few  hundreds  ,nid  h.aunt 
the  weedv  fields  and  seedy  marshland^  where 
the  lilt  of  the  Canary-like  note  is  apt  to  he  heard 
even  into  the  middle  of  winter.  Let  the  sun  liul 
shine  a  little  warmer  in  the  early  spriniL,'  .-md 
maybe  it  will  be  a  Goldfinch  instead  nf  a  lllue- 
bird  that  will  <;reet  the  promise  <if  spriiiL;'.  Its 
all  hail  will  be  src-scc-r  many  limes  repeated. 

From  ocean  to  ocean  this  bird  is  common.  In 
the  Rockies  it  is  lar.s^er  and  lii,diter  with  ])urer 
tints  in  winter  plumage,  and  is  there  distinijuished 
by  the  varietal  name  of  Pale  Goldfinch  i  .Istra- 
galiniis  tristis  pallidiis).  On  the  Pacitic  c(iasi 
the  ditTerences  are  not  as  great  as  in  the  moun- 
tains, but  great  enough  to  make  a  separate  variety 
called  the  ^^'illow  Goldfinch  { .4stra(/aliiiiis  tristis 
salicauiaiis).  Down  through  the  luxuriance  of 
southern  California  they  have  been  known  as 
"gentle-spirited  birds"  that  "seem  .as  light- 
hearted  as  butterflies."  (Mrs.  I-'lorence  Merriam 
Bailey.  » 

In  her  Birds  Throiif/Ii  an  Opera  Class  the 
same  author  says  of  the  Goldfinch  in  the  east: 
"  Being  a  vegetarian,  his  store-house  is  al\v;i_\s 
well  filled,  for  if  the  snow  covers  the  seeds  be 
would  gather  from  the  brown  weed-tops,  he  goes 
to  the  alders  in  the  swamp;  and  if  the\'  fail  him 
he  is  sure  to  find  plentv  in  the  seeds  of  the 
hemlock,  the  spruce,  and  the  larch." 

P.  Nf.lsox  Nn  iioi.s. 

In  winter  this  Goldfinch  feeds  largely  on  weed 
seeds,  the  seeds  of  birches,  and  those  of  the 
buttonbush.  In  summer  it  subsists  to  a  large 
extent  on  weed  seed,  but  destroys  many  noxious 
insects,  such  as  cankerworms,  plant  lice,  small 
grasshoppers,  and  beetles.  The  habit  of  feeding 
on  thistles  which  has  given  the  species  the  coiu- 
mon  name  (jf  "  Thistle  Bird  "  is  well  exemplified 
by  the  following  field  note:  A  thistle  on  which 
a  Goldfinch  had  been  feeding  was  examined  and 
on  its  leaves  and  the  ground  beneath  sixtv-seven 


seeds  were  counted.  They  appeared  pertect,  but 
close  inspection  showed  a  slit  through  which 
the  meaty  kernel  had  been  deftlv  removed.  Dr. 
.'-i.  D.  Judd  reports  having  been  able  to  approach 
within  ten  feet  of  four  Goldtmches  who  were 
feeding  on  ragwecfl.  Often  they  would  all  alight 
on    the    same    plant    at    once,    then    thev    would 


NEST  AND   EGGS  OF   GOLDFINCH 

wrench  oft'  the  seeds,  extract  the  meat,  and  drop 
the  shell,  their  actions  resembling  those  of  a 
Canary  at  its  seed  cup.  In  one  instaitce  three 
alighted  on  a  very  small  plant,  which  under 
their  weight  bent  to  the  ground.  Nothing 
daunted,  the\-  clung  to  the  spr.ays,  heads  down- 
ward, until  they  touched  the  earth,  then  shiftin.g 
their  position  so  as  to  hold  the  stems  under 
their   feet,   went  on  with   their  meal. 


ARKANSAS  GOLDFINCH 

Astragalinus  psaltria  psaltria   (Say) 


Other  Names. —  Tarweed  Canary;  Arkansas  Green-  tail,   black   nr   dusky.      Hill,    small,   conical,   and   acute; 

hack.  wings,  lon.c;  and  puinted  ;  tail,  r:illu'r  shcirl  and   forked; 

General    Description, —  I^eiiK'tli,   4'j    inches.      Ui)i)er  le.£?s,    short. 
I)arts.    olive-yreeni^h ;    under   jiarts,    yellow:    win.ys    and  Color. —  .Xiui  r     M  \i.i: :       Croi^'u,    (/lossy    I'lack':    ear 

\oL.   11 1. -3 


I6 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


region,  hindneck,  back,  slioulders,  and  rump,  olive- 
green;  zcijigs,  black  ik.ntli  a  large  ivhitc  patcli  at  base  of 
primaries;  greater  wing-coverts,  tipped  with  white  or 
pale  grayish  ;  primaries  narrowly  and  inner  wing  quills 
broadly  edged  with  the  same ;  upper  tail-coverts,  black, 
margined  with  olive-green ;  tail,  blackish ;  under  parts, 
light  yellozc.  Adult  Female:  Above  including  crown, 
olive-greenish,  the  crown  sometimes  indistinctly 
streaked  with  dusky ;  wings,  as  in  adult  male,  but  gen- 
eral color  grayish  dusky  instead  of  black;  tail  with  the 
white  on  inner  webs  of  exterior  tail-feathers  restricted 
to  a  squarish  spot  in  middle  portion  ;  under  parts,  light 
olive-yellow.      Young:      Similar    to    adult    female,    but 


tinged  with  buffy-brownish  above,  the  lighter  wing- 
markings  buffy,  and  tlie  under  parts  a  paler  and  duller, 
or  more  buffy,  yellow. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest  :  In  small  trees  or  bushes ; 
a  counterpart  of  the  American  Goldfinch's,  but,  like  the 
eggs,  smaller.     EG(iS :     4  or  5,  pale  bluish-green. 

Distribution. —  Western  United  States,  from  coast  of 
California  to  eastern  base  of  Rocky  Mountains  ;  north 
to  northern  California,  southern  Idaho,  Utah,  and  Colo- 
rado;  south,  in  winter  at  least,  to  southern  Lower 
California  and  southern  New  Mexico  and  Arizona; 
breeding  south  to  San  Pedro  Martir  Mountains,  north- 
ern Lower  California. 


There  is  a  very  near  relative  of  the  Gold- 
finch, residing  exclusively  in  the  western  states ; 
he  is  the  Arkansas  Goldfinch.  He  is  a  little 
smaller  than  the  mernbers  of  the  more  widely 
distributed  family.  A  friendly  little  fellow  is 
he,  constantly  found  in  gardens  and  along  the 
roadsides,  sometimes  busily  feeding  among  the 
weeds  on  the  ground  and  again  tossing  his 
song  to  the  winds  from  the  top  of  some  tall 
eucalyptus  tree. 

This  Goldfinch  is  a  long  time  acquiring  the  full 
adult  plumage  and  first  breeds  in  the  immature 
plumage.     This  fact  led  to  a  great  deal  of  con- 


fusion, and  the  three  stages  of  development 
were  each  given  a  difTerent  name  until  enough 
specimens  had  been  collected  to  prove  that  the 
variations  were  due  merely  to  age. 

A  slightly  variant  form  of  the  Arkansas  Gold- 
finch is  known  as  the  Green-backed  Goldfinch 
( Astragalinux  psaltria  hcspcrophUus)  and  is 
found  in  the  southwestern  United  States  and 
northwestern  Mexico  from  California  and  Lower 
California  to  Utah,  Arizona,  and  extreme  sottth- 
western  New  Mexico. 

The  Arkansas  Goldfinch  feeds  almost  entirely 
on  weed  seeds. 


PINE  SISKIN 
Spinus  pinus   (JVilson) 

A.    O,    U.    Number    ;,)3        Sec    Cnh.r   TLltc    -8 


Other  Names. —  Pine  Finch  ;  Pine  Linnet ;  American 
Siskin  ;   Northern   Canary  Bird. 

General  Description. —  Length,  444  inches.  Upper 
parts,  grayish  :  under  parts,  white  :  streaked  above  and 
below  with  dusky.  Bill,  small,  conical,  and  acute ; 
wings,  long  and  pointed  ;  tail,  rather  short  and  forked  ; 
legs,  short. 

Color. — .^bove,  grayish  or  brownish,  conspicuously 
streaked  with  dusky,  the  ground  color  of  the  rump 
paler  (whitish  or  light  grayish)  ;  wings  and  tail,  dusky 
or  dull  blackish ;  middle  and  greater  wing-coverts, 
tipped  with  whitish,  and  inner  wing  quills  edged  with 
same:  basal  portion  of  wing  feathers  (especially 
secondaries)  and  tail  feathers,  pale  yellow,  mostly 
(often  entirely)  concealed ;  under  parts,  dull  white, 
everywhere  (except  on  abdomen  and  anal  region) 
streaked  with  dusky. 


Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest  :  Usually  located  in  a  coni- 
fer, from  2u  to  30  feet  up,  well  concealed;  walls 
roughly  constructed  of  hemlock  or  other  twigs  and 
inoss ;  a  saucer-shaped  structure  one-half  foot  across; 
the  interior,  about  two  inches  in  diameter,  is  carefully 
and  thickly  lined  with  plant  down,  fur,  and  hair.  Eggs: 
4  to  6.  pale  bluish  or  greenish  white  lightly  spotted  with 
chestnut  and  some  'black. 

Distribution. —  Northern  coniferous  forest  districts 
of  North  .'\merica,  breeding  south  to  Nova  Scotia,  New 
Brunswick,  parts  of  New  England,  lower  Hudson  val- 
ley, mountains  of  Pennsylvania,  and  southward  to  high 
mountains  of  North  Carolina.  Minnesota,  etc.,  and  on 
the  high  western  ranges  quite  to  the  southern  boundary 
of  the  United  States;  in  winter,  south  to  Gulf  coast  (in- 
cluding Florida  and  Texas),  valleys  of  California,  etc., 
and  into  Mexico ;  casual  or  accidental  in  Cuba. 


FINCHES 


17 


Someone  has  said  that  any  bird  is  frequent 
enough  to  be  common  if  you  go  where  it  breeds. 
The  Pine  Sisivin  breeds  from  the  Atlantic  to  the 
Pacific  and  yet  very  few  people  have  ever  seen 
the  bird.  The  reason  is  that  the  bird  not  only 
confines  itself  pretty  closely  to  the  evergreen 
mountain  forests,  but  even  there  it  is  uncertain 
in  its  abode.  One  year  it  may  be  seen  in  large 
numbers  about  one  group  of  mountain  peaks 
and  valleys.  The  next  year  not  a  Siskin  can 
be  found  in  the  whole  district.  This  uncertainty 
in  its  breeding  areas  is  as  nothing  to  the  eccen- 
tricity of  the  fall  and  winter  ramblings.  Many 
winters  pass  without  a  Siskin  being  seen  about 
New  York  city,  Boston,  Washington,  and 
Chicago.  Then  again  there  are  winters  when 
they  are  tolerably  common.  Its  notes  are  some- 
what similar  to  the  Goldfinch's.  T.  M.  Trippe  of 
Colorado  wrote  to  Dr.  Coues  that  "  in  spring  it 
sings  very  agreeably,  very  much  like  the  latter 
bird  [the  Goldfinch],  but  in  a  lower  voice; 
and  like  it  has  the  habit  of  singing  in  a  lively, 
rambling  sort  of  way  for  an  hour  or  more  at 
a  time." 

The  birds  congregate  in  large  flocks  after  the 
breeding  season.  There  is  nothing  particularly 
interesting  to  attract  an  observer  to  a  flock  feed- 
ing qtiietly  in  the  weeds.  They  look  like  plain 
little  striped  brown  Sparrows.  Startle  them 
and  the  flock  as  one  bird  will  rise  and  wheel  off 
to  a  more  distant  feeding  ground.  A  quick  ob- 
server will  notice  the  yellow  patches  on  the  wings 
and  tail.  Then  too  they  may  utter  weak  tit-i- 
tit  notes,  or  on  occasions  will  break  out  in 
Goldfinch-like   scc-a-z^'cc    notes    that    betrav    the 


close  relationship  to  the  \Vild  Canary.  Herbert 
K.  Job  calls  them  Northern  Canary  Birds, 
and  says  that  he  found  them  in  their  nesting 
grounds  in  June  in  northern  Nova  Scotia  ;  and 
that  they  were  singing  prettily  in  the  shade  trees 
along  the  streets  of  Pictou.  Wells  W.  Cooke 
said  that  in  Colorado  the  .Si>kins  range  from  the 
timber-line  in  the  high  mountains  down  to  about 
7000  feet  above  sea  level.  "  Some  stay  near  the 
timber-line  through  the  winter,  but  the  bulk 
scatter  over  the  lower  valleys  and  plains." 

Herbert  K.  Job  says  that  it  was  early  in  Octo- 
ber when  he  saw  the  Siskins  for  the  first  time. 
He  was  hunting  Partridge  and  \\'oodcock  and 
in  an  opening  in  the  woods  he  saw  a  flock  of 
them  alight  on  a  tree.  Trembling  with  excite- 
ment he  fired  into  the  midst  of  them  and  ob- 
tained a  number  of  specimens.  Never  since  has 
he  seen  so  large  a  flock.  The  ordinary  bird 
observer  may  not  be  so  excited  as  Mr.  Job  was, 
but  he  had  better  look  lung  and  earnestly  when 
he  sees  his  first  flock,  for  it  may  be  manv  a  day 
before  he  sees  the  second. 

T.  Net, SON  Nichols. 

The  Pine  .Siskin  is  very  similar  in  his  habits 
to  the  Goldfinch  and  the  Redpoll  and  associates 
very  freely  with  them.  Not  infrequently  he  is 
seen  with  Crossbills.  He  feeds  principally  on 
the  seeds  of  the  white  cedar,  tamarack,  and  the 
various  pines  and  spruces.  When  the  ground 
is  bare  he  eagerly  eats  the  fallen  seeds  of  maple, 
elm.  and  other  trees,  as  well  as  grass  and  weed 
seeds.  Frequently  he  is  reported  in  the  spring  as 
feeding  on  dandelion  seeds. 


ENGLISH  SPARROW 
Passer  domesticus  {Liniunis} 


Other  Names. —  European  House  Sparrow  ;  Gamin  ; 
Tramp  ;   Hoodlum  :   Domestic   Sparrow. 

General  Description. —  Length,  5'4  inches.  Upper 
parts,  reddish-brown,  streaked  with  black;  under  parts, 
grayish-white.  Bill,  stout,  shorter  than  head;  wings, 
of  medium  lengtli  ;  tail,  about  .'4  length  of  wing;  legs, 
short  and  rather  stout. 

Color. — Adult  M,.\le:  Crown,  deep  gray  or  olive- 
gray  bordered  laterally  by  a  broad  patch  of  chestnut 
extending  from  behind  the  eye  to  sides  of  neck ;  chin, 
throat,  and  chest,  black ;  a  small  white  spot  above  rear 
angle  of  the  eye;  back  and  shoulders,  rusty  brown 
streaked  with  black ;  lesser  wing-coverts,  chestnut ; 
middle  coverts,  blackish  tipped  with  white  forming  a 
conspicuous  bar ;  rest  of  wings,  dusky  with  light  brown 
and  rusty  brown  edgings ;  rump,  olive  or  olive-grayish  ; 
tail,  dusky  edged  with  light  olive  or  olive-grayish : 
cheek  region  and  sides  of  throat,  white;  under  parts  of 
body,  dull  grayish  white,  more  grayish  laterally ;  bill, 
black.     .AnuLT  Fem.^le:     Crown  and  hindneck,  grayish 


brown  or  olive;  chin,  throat,  and  chest,  dull  brownish 
white  or  pale  brownish  gray  like  rest  of  under  parts; 
otherwise  like  the  adult  male,  but  back  browner. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest:  Occasionally  built  in  trees, 
more  often  in  bird-houses,  electric-light  hoods,  cornices, 
water-spouts,  and  similar  places ;  tree-nests  large  and 
covered,  others  open  ;  made  of  grasses  or  any  easily 
obtained  material,  loosely  put  together,  and  lined  with 
featliers.  Eggs  :  4  to  7,  generally  white,  finely  and 
evenly  marked  with  olive,  but  also  varying  from  plain 
white  to  almost  uniform  olive  brown;  two  broods  at 
least  in  a  season,  usually  three,  and  soinetimes  four  and 
even   five. 

Distribution, —  luirope  in  general,  except  Italy ; 
introduced  into  the  United  States,  where  thoroughly 
and  ineradicably  naturalized  in  all  settled  districts, 
except  southern  Florida  and  a  few  other  extreme  out- 
posts; also  introduced  into  Bahamas  (island  of  New 
Providence),  Cuba,  Nova  Scotia,  Bermudas,  and 
southern  Greenland. 


IS 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


1  lie  F,nglish  Sparrow  or  luiro])i-an  House 
Sparrow  was  introduced  into  America  in  1850. 
In  the  fall  of  that  year  eight  pairs  were  brought 
to  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  and  liberated  in  the  follow- 
ing spring.  Since  that  time  many  importations 
have  been  made,  and  small  lots  of  sparrows  have 
been  carried  from  one  locality  to  another  until 
now  the  bird  is  naturalized  nearly  all  o^■er  the 
United    States.      This    rapid    dissemination    is    a 


resident,  he  starts  his  nesting  early  and  when 
the  other  birds  arrive,  all  the  available  nesting 
sites  are  occupied  and  the  new-comers  must 
either  fight  for  a  place  or  go  elsewhere.  Not 
infrequently  he  directly  attacks  Robins,  Song 
Sparrows,  Chickadees,  Flycatchers,  Thrushes, 
Tanagers,  and  other  birds,  while  they  are  feed- 
ing and  annoys  them  by  repeated  calls  at  their 
liomes. 


Drawing  by  L.  A.  Fui-rtes 


ENGLISH  SPARROWS 
Male  Female 

Taking  possession  of  a  nesting  box  provided  for  a  native  bird 


result  of  the  bird's  hardiness,  extraordinary 
fecundity,  diversity  of  food,  aggressive  disposi- 
tion, and  almost  complete  immunity  from 
natural  enemies. 

Although  English  Sparrows  are  widely  dis- 
tributed as  a  species,  individuals  and  flocks  have 
an  extremely  narrow  range,  each  flock  occupying 
one  locality  and  confining  its  operations  to  that 
particular  territory. 

The  House  Sparrow  is  a  persistent  enemy  of 
many  native  birds,  especially  those  which  fre- 
quent the  neighborhood  of  houses,  or  which  nest 
in  boxes,  holes,  or  other  places  prepared  for 
them  l)v  their  human   friends.      Being  a  winter 


The  lilthy  habits  of  these  birds  are  most  annoy- 
ing. They  gather  in  immense  flocks  to  roost, 
and  generally  select  cornices,  ornamental  work 
about  the  eaves  and  gables  of  houses,  windovi'- 
cappings,  and  the  vines  which  cover  the  walls 
of  buildings.  These  they  defile  with  their  ex- 
crement. Great  and  serious  damage ,  is  often 
caused  by  their  carrying  nesting  materials  into 
rain-spouts,  gutters,  and  similar  places  about 
houses,  so  that  cisterns  are  defiled,  or  pipes  over- 
flow, causing  destruction  of  or  injury  to  property. 

The  English  S])arrow.  when  once  established 
increases  with  wonderful  rapidity.  At  least  two 
broods  are  raised  in  a  season,  but  the  usual  num- 


FINCHES 


19 


ber  is  tliree  and  trustworthy  observers  have 
recorded  four  and  five.  Very  seldom  are  there 
less  than  four  birds  in  a  brood  and  the  old  birds 
are  generally  successful  in  s^a-tting  the  youni;  on 
the  wing  without  any  accidents.  Therefore  an 
immense  number  of  these  Sparrows  can  be  raised 
in  a  limited  area  in  one  season.  A  dozen  pairs 
in  the  course  of  three  or  four  years  will  have 
increased,  if  let  alone,  to  thousands. 

The  English  Sparrow  among  birds,  like  the 
rat  among  mammals,  is  cunning,  destructive,  and 
filthy.  Its  nattiral  diet  consists  of  seeds,  but  il 
eats  a  great  variety  of  other  foods.  \\'hile  much 
of  its  fare  consists  of  waste  material  from  the 
streets,  in  autumn  and  winter  it  consumes  (|uan- 
tities  of  weed  seed  and  in  summer  numenius 
insects.  The  destruction  of  weed  seed  sliduld 
undeniably  count  in  the  Sparrow's  favor.  Its 
record  as  to  insects  in  most  localities  is  not  sd 
clear. 

In  exceptional  cases  it  has  been  found  very 
useful  as  a  destroyer  of  insect  pests.  For 
example,  during  an  investigation  by  the  United 
States  Biological  Bureau  of  birds  that  destroy 
the  alfalfa  weevil,  English  Sparrows  were  feeding 
their  nestlings  largely  on  weevil  larvs  and  cut- 
worms, both  of  which  are  very  injurious  to 
alfalfa.  In  this  case  the  Sparrows,  attracted  by 
grain  in  the  fields  and  poultry  rtins  and  by  the 
excellent  nest  sites  afforded  by  the  thatched  roofs 
of  many  farm  buildings,  had  left  the  city  and 
taken  up  their  abode  in  the  country  where  the 
weevil  outbreak  subsequently  occurred.  l'nf(ir- 
tunately,  however,  farmers  can  rarely  expect 
such    aid   asfainst   their   insect    foes,      \\'liene\-er 


this  bird  proves  usefid  it  is  entitled  to  protection 
and  encouragement  in  proportion  to  its  net  value. 
Under  normal  conditions  its  choice  of  insects  is 
often  unfavorable. 

The  English  .Sparrow  destroys  fruit,  as  cher- 
ries, grapes,  pears,  and  peaches.  It  also  destrovs 
liuds  and  flowers  of  cultivated  trees,  shrubs,  and 
vines.  In  the  garden  it  eats  seeds  as  they  ripen, 
and  nips  ulT  ten(ki    \(inni,   \(L;(tihles,  especialh' 


Photo  l.y  11.  T.  Mi.ldlil.jTi 

FEMALE   ENGLISH    SPARROW 

peas  and  lettuce,  as  lliey  ai^iear  abo\e  ground. 
It  damages  wheat  and  other  grains,  whether 
newly  sown,  ripening,  or  in  shocks.  As  a  flock 
of  fifty  .Sparrows  requires  daily  the  equivalent 
of  a  quart  of  wheat,  the  annual  loss  caused  by 
these  birds  throughout  the  country  is  very  great. 
It  reduces  the  numliers  of  some  our  most  useful 
native  birds,  as  Bluebirds,  House  Wrens,  Purple 
.Martins,  Tree  Swallows,  and  Barn  Swallows,  by 
destroying  their  eggs  and  young  and  by  usurping 
nesting  places. 


SNOW  BUNTING 
Plectrophenax  nivalis  nivalis  (  Liii/nnis) 

.\     O      I'      XuTiilMr    -u        See    Color    I'l.Tte    80 


Other  Names. —  Snowflake  ;  Snow  Lark;  Snuwliinl; 
Whitebird  ;  White  Snowbird. 

General  Description. —  Length,  8  incho>.  L\  Su.\i- 
mkr:  Male,  wliite  with  black  markings:  female,  white, 
streaked  on  upper  parts  with  black.  In  Wintkr:  Moth 
sexes  have  the  upper  parts  stained  with  rusty.  Rill, 
with  lower  section  thicker  than  the  upper  section  : 
wings,  long  and  pointed;  tail,  about  .'s  length  of  wing, 
forked,  and  the  middle  pair  of  feathers  pointed  at  the 
tip. 

Color. — Adult  Male  in  Summer:  General  color, 
pure  white:  back,  shoulders,  innermost  secondaries,  and 
greater  wing-coverts,  greater  part  of  primaries,  and 
four  to  si.x  middle  tail-feathers  (sometimes  rump  also), 
black;  bill,  black;  legs  and  feet,  black,  or  the  former 
sometimes    dark    brown.      .AnULT    Male    in    Winter: 


.Similar  to  the  Mininier  idnmagc,  but  the  white  parts 
(except  under  parts  (if  body)  staincrl  with  rusty  brown, 
especially  on  crown  ( where  sometimes  rich  dark 
lirown)  and  hindneck.  and  the  black  of  the  back, 
shoulders,  etc.,  broken  (sometimes  almost  concealed) 
by  broad  margins  of  rusty  and  buffy  wdiitish  :  bill, 
yellow.  Adult  Female  in  Summer:  Crown,  dusky, 
the  feathers  margined  with  dull  wdiitish  or  pale  grayish 
huffy;  hindneck.  dull  whitish  or  pale  dull  bufTy. 
streaked  with  dusky:  back  and  shoulders  (sometimes 
rump  also),  dull  black  or  dusky,  the  feathers  margined 
with  dull  whitisli  (their  edgings  quite  \vorn  off  in  mid- 
summer plumage)  :  lesser  and  .greater  wing-covcrts. 
blackish  margined  and  edged  with  whitish :  greater 
part  of  secondaries,  three  outermost  tail-feathers,  and 
under     parts      (sometimes     rump     also),     white:     bill. 


20 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


dusky.  Adult  Female  in  Winter:  Similar  to  sum- 
mer female,  but  upper  parts  stained  with  rusty  brown, 
especially  on  crown,  ear  region,  and  sides  of  chest, 
and  margins  to  feathers  of  back,  etc.,  paler,  broader, 
and  more  buffy  or  buffy  grayish ;  bill,  yellowish. 
Young:  Head,  neck,  back,  shoulders,  and  rump, 
brownish  gray  tinged  with  olive,  the  back  streaked 
with  dusky ;  front  under  parts  paler  gray  than  upper 
parts,  the  chest  and  sides  of  breast  usually  very  faintly 
streaked  with  dusky ;  under  parts  of  body,  mainly 
white,  usually  tinged  with  pale  olive-yellowisli  :  wings 
and  tail,  much  as  in  winter  adults. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest  :  On  the  ground  in  grassy 
tussocks ;  a  large,  well  built  structure,  exteriorly  com- 
posed of  dried  grass,  moss  woven  into  thick  walls,  the 


small,  deep  center  thickly  feathered.  Eggs  :  4  to  6, 
white  or  pale  greenish  white,  spotted  with  raw  umber 
and  lavender. 

Distribution. —  Northern  parts  of  Europe,  .i^sia,  and 
North  America ;  breeding  in  arctic  and  subarctic 
districts ;  in  North  America  breeding  on  the  barren- 
ground  or  tundra  region  from  northern  Labrador  to 
."Maska,  north  and  east  of  the  coast  ranges,  and  north 
to  islands  of  Arctic  Ocean  (at  least  to  latitude  82°)  ; 
m  winter  south  to  more  northern  United  States,  irregu- 
larly to  District  of  Columbia,  Florida,  Georgia,  southern 
Ohio,  southern  Indiana,  Kansas,  Colorado,  northern 
California,  and  eastern  Oregon;  casually  to  the  Ber- 
mudas :  south  in  .'\sia  to  northern  Japan  and 
China. 


When  the  polar  explorers  have  pushed  far 
beyond  the  Eskimo  villages  and  out  into  the 
wastes  where  the  musk-ox  and  blue  fox  live, 
there  they  find  the  Snow  Bunting  or  Snowflake 


the    first    sign    of    advancing    spring    will    send 

theni  on  their  long  flights  far  across  Canada  to 

areas  little  known  and  to  some  not  yet  explored. 

While  flying,  the  members  of  the  flock  keep  up 


^^- 


TimM.  by  R.  L  Brasher 

SNOW  BUNTING  (J  nat.  size) 
A  hardy  and  beautiful  winter  visitor  from  the  aorthland 


in  his  nesting  home,  .\cross  the  ])olar  islands 
along  the  northern  shore  of  Alaska  and  only  as 
far  south  as  the  bleak  and  inhospitable  shores  of 
Hudson's  Bay,  these  birds  may  be  found  in  the 
breeding  season.  Only  in  the  depth  of  winter 
do  they  drift  on  down  into  the  northern  United 
States  to  haunt  the  snow-swept  hillsides  of  the 
farms,  and  the  bleak  and  stormy  shores  of  New 
England  at  their  bleakest  and  stormiest  season. 
They  are  so  much  whiter  than  other  Sparrows 
that  they  seem  indeed  like  animated  gusts  of 
arctic  weather  as  they  pass  along  over  the 
ground,  the  rear  birds  drifting  on  over  to  the 
front  of  the  advancing  ranks.  Many  a  person 
muffled  to  the  eyes  in  a  cold  winter's  sleigh  ride 
has  seen  the  Snowflakes  feeding  cheerily  and  by 
choice  out  in  the  bitter  biting  zero  weather  of 
wind-swept  fields.  Sometimes,  indeed,  they  will 
straggle  far  south,  even  to  the  Gulf  coast,  but 


a  tinkling  whistle,  a  note  that  has  been  likened  to 
the  syllable  tec  repeated  at  intervals  by  the 
various  members  of  the  flock  ;  when  disturbed, 
they  utter  a  harsh  hccz-hccz.  What  sweet, 
weird  song  they  sing  to  the  sunrise  of  the  morn- 
ing of  the  six-months  arctic  day,  the  explorers 
have  yet  to  tell  us.  Dr.  Elliott  Coues  gives  an 
interesting  account  of  these  birds  at  Fort  Ran- 
dall on  the  Missouri  River,  some  distance  above 
Yankton  (Birds  of  the  Nortlncest.)  The  Snow- 
flakes  "reached  Fort  Randall  November  15. 
after  a  severe  cold  snap  with  a  light  snow-fall, 
and  as  I  write  (January),  great  numbers  are 
swirling  over  the  ground  around  and  in  the 
fort.  They  keep  pretty  closely  in  flocks  num- 
bering from  a  dozen  or  so  to  several  hundred, 
and,  though  they  spread  over  the  ground  a  good 
deal  in  running  about  after  seeds,  they  fly  com- 
pactly, and  wheel  all  together.     In  their  evolu- 


Courtesy  of   tho  N.-w  York  State  M.jseun 


Plate  80 


TREE  SPARROW    Ximrllii  mnnlicnla  nvmticohi  (Gmelin) 
SNOW  BUNTING     I'lectrophrniix  nivalis  nivalis  (I.innacm) 
i  nnt.  size 


FINCHES 


ti(in>^  they  present  a  i>rotty  sight,  and  have  not 
a  displeasing  stridulent  sound,  from  mingHng  of 
the  weak  chirrups  from  so  many  throats." 

John  Burroughs  rises  to  his  best  literature  as 
he  speaks  of  this  bird  [Far  and  N'car).  "The 
only  one  of  our  winter  birds  that  really  seems 
a  part  of  the  winter,  that  seems  to  be  born  of 
the  whirling  snow,  and  to  be  happiest  when 
storms  drive  thickest  and  coldest,  is  the  Snow 
Bunting,  the  real  snowbird,  with  phnnage  copied 
from  the  fields  where  the  drifts  hide  all  but  the 
tops  of  the  tallest  weeds,  large  spaces  of  pure 
white  touched  here  and  there  with  black  and 
gray  and  brown.  Its  twittering  call  and  chirrup 
coming  out  of  the  white  obscurity  is  the  sweetest 
and  happiest  of  all  winter  bird  sounds.  Tt  is 
like  the  laughter  of  children.  The  fox-hunter 
hears  it  on  the  snowv  hills,  the  farmer  hears  it 
when  he  goes  to  fodder  his  cattle  from  the  dis- 
tant stack,  the  country  schoolboy  hears  it  as  he 
breaks  his  way  through  the  drifts  toward  the 
school.  It  is  ever  a  voice  of  good  cheer  and 
contentment." 

In  the  Far  \orth  are  found  two  other  members 


of  this  branch  of  the  h'inch  family.  They  never 
come  as  far  south  as  the  United  States.  The 
Pribilof  Snow  Hunting,  or  Aleutian  Snowfiake 
[Plectrophcnax  nk'alis  towusciidi )  is  similar  to 
the  better  known  Snow  Hunting  but  decidedly 
larger  with  a  relatively  longer  bill.  As  his  name 
indicates  his  home  is  among  the  Aleutian  Islands ; 
he  is  also  found  on  other  islands  of  that  region 
and  along  the  Siberian  coast  of  Bering  Sea. 
McKay's  Snow  Bunting  or  Snowflake  (Plec- 
trophcnax hypcrborcns)  is  similar  to  the  Pribilof 
Snow  Bunting,  but  with  much  more  white,  the 
back  and  shoulders  of  the  adult  male  being  en- 
tirely white.  This  Snow  Bunting  breeds  on 
Hall  Island  and  St.  Matthew's  Island,  north- 
central  part  of  Bering  Sea  ;  in  the  winter  it  mi- 
grates to  the  western  portion  of  the  .-Maskan 
mainland.  L.  Nei.sox  Xichols. 

The  Snow  Bunting  feeds  almost  exclusively 
from  the  ground  :  the  reports  of  his  feeding  in 
trees  are  rare.  Small  seeds  —  pigweed,  ragweed, 
and  all  kinds  of  grass  —  are  his  chief  foods. 
From  Nebraska  comes  a  statement  that  he  always 
eats  locusts'  eggs  when   thev  are  obtainable. 


LAPLAND  LONGSPUR 

Calcarius   lapponicus  lapponicus    ( Linnccux) 

A.   O.   U.    Number   jjf. 


Other  Name. —  Common  Longspur. 

General  Description. —  Length  7'4  inches.  L'p[)er 
parts,  light  brownish,  streaked  with  blackish  ;  under 
parts,  white.  Bill,  small;  wings,  long  and  [lointed  ;  tail, 
more  than  '■'j  length  of  wing,  anri  double  rounded; 
hind   claw,   long  and   slender. 

Color. —  Adult  M.\le  in  Summer:  Head  and  chest, 
deep  black,  relieved  by  a  broad  white  or  buffy  stripe 
behind  eye,  continued  downward  (vertically)  behind 
ear-coverts  and  then  backward  along  sides  of  chest; 
sides,  broadly  streaked  or  striped  with  black  ;  rest  of 
under  parts,  white;  hindneck,  deep  chestnut-rufous;  rest 
of  upper  parts,  light  brownish,  broadly  streaked  with 
blackish  ;  lesser  wing-coverts,  grayish,  featliers  black  in 
center.  Adult  M.«lLE  in  Winter:  Black  of  head  con- 
fined to  crown,  posterior  and  lower  border  of  ear- 
coverts,  lower  part  of  throat,  and  patch  on  chest,  all 
more  or  less  obscured  by  whitish  or  pale  brownish  tips 
to  feathers;  sides  of  head  (including  lores  and  greater 
part  of  ear-coverts),  mostly  dull  light  brownish;  rufous 
on  hindneck  also  similarly  obscured.  Adult  Fem.^le  in 
Summer:     Much   like  the   winter  male,  but   markings 


more  sharply  defined,  black  areas  of  chest,  etc.,  more 
restricted  and  still  more  broken,  hindneck  streaked  with 
blackish  and  size  smaller.  Adult  Female  in  Winter: 
Similar  to  summer  plnma.gc,  but  browner  and  less 
sharply  streaked  above,  hindneck  often  without  trace 
of  rufous,  lower  parts  dull  brownish-white,  and  dusky 
markings  very  indistinct. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest  :  On  ground  or  in  tussock 
of  grass;  constructed  of  fine  dried  grass  and  moss; 
lined  with  feathers  or  fur  shed  from  the  winter  coats 
of  the  arctic  fox.  Eggs:  3  to  6,  dull  white  specked 
and  spotted  and  clouded  witli  umber-brown  so  thickly 
as  almost  to  obscure  the  ground  color. 

Distribution. —  Breeding  in  arctic  and  subarctic  dis- 
tricts of  Europe,  northeastern  North  America,  including 
Greenland,  and  for  an  undetermined  distance  west- 
ward to  at  least  the  more  western  portions  of  Siberia; 
in  North  America  migrating  south  in  winter  (more  or 
less  irregularly)  to  Virginia,  South  Carolina,  Ken- 
tucky, eastern  Kansas,  Oklahoma,  and  even  to  Texas; 
west  during  migration  to  eastern  portion  of  Great 
Plains   (Manitoba  to  Texas). 


The  general  characteristics  of  the  I.ongsjnir 
family  are  the  small  acutely  conical  bill,  which  is 
deeper  at  the  base  than  it  is  wide;  exposed  nos- 
trils; long,  pointed  wing;  tail  more  than  half 
hidden  by  the  pointed  upper  coverts  ;  and  a  slen- 


der and  nearly  straight  hind  claw  about  the 
length  of  the  toe.  There  are  three  species,  difTer- 
ing  considerably  in  details  of  form.  The  type 
species  is  the  Lapland.  .Smith's  Longspur,  or  the 
Painted  Longspur  (Calcarius  f^icfii.';).  found  on 


22 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


the  interior  plains  of  North  America  east  of  the 
Rocky  Mountains  from  the  Arctic  coast  in  sum- 
mer south  to  Texas  in  winter,  is  very  similar  to 
the  Lapland,  but  has  a  slenderer  and  more 
pointed  bill.  The  Chestnut-collared  Loncjspur 
(Calcariiis  onmtiis)  differs  from  the  other  two 
species  in  having  the  tail  much  shorter  than  the 
distance  from  the  carpal  or  wrist  joint  of  the 
wing  to  the  end  of  the  wing-quills.  The  Chest- 
nut-collared is  also  an  inhabitant  of  the  great 
plains  of  the  United  States,  but  instead  of  ex- 
tending his  range  to  the  north  he  prefers  Mexico. 
A  relative  of  this  family  —  so  close  a  relative 
that  he  has  adopted  the  family  name  for  popular 
use  —  is  McCown's   Longspur    ( RliynclwpJmiics 


dent.  In  the  winter  they  come  down  to  the  north- 
ern States  to  stay  only  as  long  as  the  n(jrthern 
barrens  are  swept  by  the  unbearable  storms. 
While  here  they  are  seen  in  the  most  numbers  in 
broad  prairie  lands  and  along  the  wide  sloping 
mountain  meadows.  In  the  East  they  are  not  as 
commonly  seen,  but  many  Snowflake  flocks  have 
a  few  Longspurs.  The  Shore  Larks  that  feed  up 
and  down  the  wintry  seashore  of  New  England 
and  the  middle  States  have  also  many  Longspurs 
among  them. 

Toward  spring  the  male  becomes  a  beautiful 
bird  with  his  black  head  and  breast.  He  is  the 
most  conspicuous  creature  of  the  northern  bar- 
rens when  he  reaches  there  in  April.     Louis  A. 


(J'-urtcsy  ul  Am.  Mus.  Nat.  Hist. 
LAPLAND  LONGSPUR  (]  nat.  size) 
In  April  he  is  the  most  conspicuous  creature  of  the  northern  barrens 


mccozvtii).  He  is  fotmd  on  the  interior  plains  of 
North  America,  east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains. 
His  bill  is  much  larger  and  relatively  thicker  and 
his  tail  relatively  shorter  than  in  his  cousins.  His 
nostrils  are  nearly  concealed  by  well  developed 
soft  feathers.  The  Lapland  Longspur  and  its 
varieties,  the  Alaska  and  Siberian  Longspurs 
{Calcariiis  laj^poniciis  alascciisis  and  Calcariiis 
lappoiiiciis  colorahis),  inhabit  a  broad  subarctic 
belt  around  the  world  during  the  breeding  season. 
In  North  America  the  Alaska  occupies  the 
northwestern  tundras  east  to  the  Mackenzie 
country.  From  there  east  to  northern  Labrador 
and  Greenland  the  species  is  the  same  as  the  one 
that  extends  across  northern  Europe  and  east  into 
western  .Siberia.  It  derives  its  name  from  Jhat 
part  of  the  northern  Russian  tundras  called  Lap- 
land. The  differences  noted  in  America  between 
the  Alaska  and  Lapland  are  so  slight  that  they 
may  be  generally  disregarded  by  the  casual  stu- 


Euerte.-  said  after  an  Alaskan  trip,  that  the  Long- 
spur  sang  the  most  beautiful  song  north  of  Bobo- 
link-land. Edward  \\'.  Nelson  has  given  nuich 
time  to  the  study  of  the  bird.  "  The  Lajiland 
Longspur  is  one  of  the  few  birds,  which,  like 
the  Skylark  and  the  Bobolink,  are  so  filled  with 
the  ecstasy  of  life  in  spring  that  they  must  rise 
into  the  air  to  pour  forth  their  joy  in  singing. 
The  males  are  scattered  here  and  there  over  the 
tundra  on  their  chosen  jtrojecting  points  and  at 
frequent  intervals  mount  slowly  on  tremulous 
wings  ten  or  fifteen  yards  into  the  air.  There 
they  pause  a  moment  and  then,  with  wings  up- 
pointed,  forming  V-shaped  fi,gures.  they  float 
gently  back  to  their  perches,  uttering,  as  they 
sing,  their  liquid  notes,  which  fall  in  tinkling 
succession  on  the  ear.  It  is  an  exquisite,  slightly 
jingling  melody  .  .  .  resembling  the  song  of  the 
Bobolink." 

L.  Nelsox  Nichols. 


FINCHES 


23 


VESPER  SPARROW 
Pooecetes  gramineus  gramineus   {Giiiclin) 

A.    O.    V     XumlKr    ;40        See   Culor    Pbtc   8.- 


Other  Names. —  Bay-winged  Bunting;  Grass  Finch; 
Gray  Bin! ;  Pasture  Bird  ;  Grass  Sparrow ;  Ground- 
bird  ;    Bay-winged   Finch. 

General  Description. —  Length,  6'^  inches.  Upper 
parts,  grayish-brown,  streaked  witli  black  ;  under  parts, 
white.  Bill,  small ;  wings,  long  and  pointed  ;  tail,  about 
ii  length  of  wing,  forked,  and  with  the  feathers  rather 
narrow. 

Color. —  Adults:  .\bove,  light  grayish-brown  (hair- 
brown)  conspicuously  streaked  with  lilack,  the  streaks 
broadest  on  back,  less  distinct  on  rump  ;  lessor  wing- 
coverts,  cinnamon  or  russet  with  a  dusky  ( mostly 
concealed)  wedge-shaped  central  space;  wings  other- 
wise and  tail  dusky,  the  feathers  edged  with  light 
grayish-brown,  especially  the  larger  wing-coverts  and 
secondaries,  the  former  (middle  and  greater  coverts) 
indistinctly  tipped  with  pale  dull  buffy.  forming  in- 
distinct narrow  bands  ;  outcniwst  tail-fcallicrs.  larrjcly 
while:  region  over  eye,  light  grayish  brown  or  brown- 
ish gray,  narrowly  and  indistinctly  streaked  with  dusky  ; 


ear  region,  browner :  a  white  or  bufTy  white  cheek 
stripe  margined  below  by  a  series  of  dusky  streaks 
along  each  side  of  throat ;  under  parts  dull  white 
tinged  with  pale  bufify  on  chest,  sides,  and  flanks  ;  iris, 
brown. 

Nest  and  Eggs.—  Xest  :  Always  placed  upon  the 
ground,  sunk  level,  in  pastures,  meadows  or  along 
roadsides  in  the  brush  ;  rather  bulky,  thick  rimmed, 
well  cupped  but  not  tightly  woven;  constructed  of 
dried  grass,  weed  stalks,  some  bark  strips,  and  lined 
with  fine  grass  and  hair.  Eggs  :  4  to  6,  grayish 
or  bluish-white  spotted  with  burnt  umber  and  chest- 
nut. 

Distribution. —  Eastern  I'nited  .States  and  more 
southern  British  provinces ;  breeding  from  Virginia, 
Kentucky,  Missouri,  etc..  northward  to  Nova  Scotia (  ?), 
Prince  Edward  Island,  New  Brunswick(  ?),  Province 
of  Quebec(  ?),  eastern  Manitoba (  ?),  etc.;  south  in 
winter  to  Gulf  coast  (Florida  to  eastern  Texas); 
casual   in   Bermudas. 


It  has  been  said  that  what  the  Veery's  song 
is  to  the  deep  woods,  the  Vesper  .'-iparrow's  is 
to  the  fields  and  pastures.  There  is  a  certain 
accuracy  in  this  comparison,  and  yet  the  son.gs 
are  essentially  different  in  spirit ;  for  the  \''eery's 
resonant  tremolo  has  an  elfin-like  ring,  which  is 
entirely  absent  from  the  Sparrow's  simple  little 
expression  of  qniet  thankfulness  and  very  beau- 
tiful contentment.  Both  songs  may  be  heard  at 
any  hour  of  the  day,  but  there  seems  to  be  an 
especial  sincerity  and  spontaneity  in  the  Spar- 
row's utterance   when   it  blends   perfectly,   as  it 


always  does,  with  the  spirit  of  the  evenin'^'  and 
the  advancing  shadows.  Then  it  is  truly  vcspc- 
rian,  and  in  that  respect  few  birds  have  been 
more  a|)propriately  named. 

Some  listeners  consider  the  song  similar  to  that 
I  if  the  .Song  Sparrow,  but  such  similarity  cer- 
tainly is  not  invariably  ]>resent ;  and  generally 
the  songs  are  qm'te  different  in  mood  and  musical 
structure.  Air.  Torrey  expressed  this  .general 
difference  accurately  when  he  said  that  the  Song 
Sparrow's  utterance  is  more  declamatory  and  the 
X'esper's   more   cantabile.      l^requentlv   the  \^es- 


"^^5^-  **, 


"t:*^^^. 


..> 


■^. 


Fhotograph  by  A.  A.  Alle 


FOUR   lAPI-AND   LONGSPURS  AND  FOUR   PRAIRIE   HORNED   LARKS 


24 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


])t'r's  lay  is  a  simple  descending  series  of  notes, 
very  sweet  and  somewhat  violin-like  in  quality, 
delivered  with  increasing  rapidity.  Not  infre- 
quently the  song  is  heard  in  the  dead  of  night, 
and  occasionally  the  bird  delivers  a  quite  elab- 


1  by  H.  K.  Jub  Cuurtcsy  of  C 

NEST  OF  VESPER  SPARROW 
Containing  three  eggs  of  the  Cowbird 


orate  flight-song  as  it  flutters  upward  to  a  height 
of  fifty  or  seventy-five  feet.  This  effort  is  very 
different  from  the  usual  leisurely  ditty,  gen- 
erally rendered  from  a  conspicuous  perch  atop 
a  fence-post  or  bush. 

The  Vesper  Sparrow  is  shy,  after  the  manner 
of  its  kind.  Often  in  the  fields  or  on  the  road- 
sides, it  will  run  along  for  some  distance,  keep- 
ing just  ahead  of  the  pedestrian.  When  it  takes 
to  its  wings  the  two  white  feathers  on  either 
side  of  its  tail  show  very  plainly.  It  has  no  true 
crest,  but  it  often  elevates  the  feathers  on  the 
crown  of  its  head  so  that  they  form  a  temporary 
one. 

In  western  North  America,  except  the  Pacific 
coast  district,  there  is  a  variant  form  of  the 
\^esper  Sparrow,  known  as  the  Western  Ves- 
per Sparrow  {Poa-cctcs  grauiincns  confinis).  It 
averages  larger,  and  has  a  slenderer  bill  than  the 
eastern  Vesper ;  it  is  also  slightly  paler  and 
grayer  and  the  marks  on  the  chest  are  not  so 
dark. 

Both  of  these  forms  are  replaced  in  the  Pacific 
coast  district  by  the  Oregon  Vesper  Sparrow 
(Pocccctcs  gramlncus  affinis).  The  Oregon 
Vesper  is  smaller  than  the  Vesper,  browner  above 
and  distinctly  biiffy  below. 

The  Vesper  Sparrow  lives  chiefly  on  different 
injurious  insects,  the  animal  proportion  of  its 
food  reaching  90  per  cent,  in  the  height  of  sum- 
mer. Beetles  and  grasshoppers  are  most  sought 
after,  and  next  to  them  come  cutworms,  army 
worms,  and  other  smooth  caterpillars.  It  should 
be  accorded  the  fullest  protection  because  of  its 
value  to  the  farmer. 


IPSWICH  SPARROW 

Passerculus  princeps  Mayiiard 

\.    O.    I'.    Xumbcr    541        See    Color    Plate  81 


General  Description. —  Length,  6'i  incites.  Upper 
parts,  grayish  ;  under  parts,  whitisli.  Bill,  small ;  wings, 
long  and  pointed:  tail,  about  •f'i  length  of  wing. 

Color. — Adui-TS  :  .\bove,  pale  grayish  :  the  crown 
and  back,  streaked  with  pale  brown  and  blackish  : 
cro'cii,  ivith  a  narro'tC  center  stripe  of  fiale  grayish 
huff  or  dull  huffy  'cchilish :  broad  siinilar  but  paler 
stripe  over  eye;  outer  surface  of  inner  wing-quills  and 
greater  wing-coverts,  pale  bulTy  brown ;  cheek  stripe, 
pale  buff  or  whitish  ;   under  parts,  white  tinged   later- 


ally (sometimes  across  chest  also)  with  pale  brownish 
bufif;  the  chest  and  sides,  streaked  with  brown;  iris, 
brown. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest  :  On  the  ground  in  ineadow 
and  grassy  reaches  of  Sable  Island  (so  far  as  known)  ; 
constructed  of  similar  materials  as  the  nest  of  the 
Savannah    Sparrow.      Eggs:     Also    similar   but   larger. 

Distribution. —  Breeding  on  Sable  Island  (and  other 
islands?),  off  Nova  Scotia;  migrating  southward 
along  Atlantic   coast  as   far  as  Georgia. 


FINCHES 


25 


This  is  a  songless  Sparrow  which  occurs,  dur- 
ing its  migration,  on  the  beaches  along  the  Atlan- 
tic and  Gulf  coasts  from  Sable  Island,  Nova 
Scotia,  where  it  breeds,  to  Georgia.  It  is  most 
likely  to  be  found  skulking  in  the  beach-grass, 
generally  quite  near  the  ocean.  In  such  sur- 
roundings it  seems  to  have  been  first  discovered 
near  Ipswich,  Mass.,  in  1868,  and  thereafter  for 
several  years  was  confounded  with  Baird's  Spar- 
row {Ainiiiodrainiis  bainli),  a  western  form, 
which  it  only  very  slightly  resembles.  It  is  very 
timid  and  when  flushed  is  likely  to  flv  rapidly  for 
a  considerable  distance,  then  plunge  down  into 
the  grass  and  continue  its  retreat  by  running  for 
perhaps  fifty  yards,  so  that  it  is  difficult  to  see 
the  bird  a  second  time.  Its  associates  frequentlv 
are  Horned  Larks,  from  which  it  may  easily  be 
distinguished,    but    it    somewhat    resembles    the 


larger     light-colored     Savannah     .Sparrow.       Its 
single  note,  only  occasionally  uttered,  is  a  faint 

The  Ipswich  Sparrow  is  a  very  rare  bird  and 
this  fact,  added  to  its  exceedingly  limited  range, 
prevents  it  from  having  any  appreciable  impor- 
tance. Grass  seed,  particularly  in  winter,  forms 
the  staple  diet.  Lambs-quarters,  different  polyg- 
onums, and  dock  are  also  taken.  The  fruit  ele- 
ment consists  of  bayberries,  bkieberries,  and 
bunchberries.  The  animal  food  is  made  up  of 
beetles,  wasp-like  insects,  bugs,  caterpillars,  flies, 
spiders,  and  snails.  In  June  the  most  common 
article  of  diet  is  the  little  dung-beetle.  Tiger 
beetles  are  also  eaten,  a  rather  unusual  element 
of  Sparrow  fare,  but  due.  probably,  to  the  abun- 
dance of  these  active  insects  ujjon  the  sand  dunes 
which  the  bird  frequents. 


SAVANNAH  SPARROW 
Passerculus   sandwichensis  savanna    {IVilson) 


Other  Names. —  Ground  Sparrow;  Field  Sparrow 
(incorrect):   Ground-bird;   Savannah   Fiunting. 

General  Description. —  Length.  6  inches.  Upper 
parts,  grayish-brown;  under  parts,  white;  streaked 
above  and  below  with  black.  Bill,  small;  wings,  long 
and  pointed;  tail,  about  ^i  length  of  wing,  and  notched. 

Color. —  Adults  :  Above,  grayish-brown,  conspicu- 
ously streaked  with  black,  the  broad  black  streaks  on 
back  and  shoulders  edged  with  narrower  dull  whitish 
or  light  buffy-grayish ;  streaks;  croivn,  zvith  a  median 
narrow  stripe  of  pale  grayish  or  buffy-grayish  streaks; 
a  broad  stripe  of  yellowish  over  the  eye.  more  decidedly 
yellow  in  the  front ;  wings,  light  brownish  with  dusky 
centers  to  the  feathers ;  tail,  dusky  grayish-brown,  the 
feathers  edged  with  pale  grayish  but  without  any  white 
on  inner  webs;  ear  and  under  eye  regions  light  brown- 
ish-gray or  dull  grayish-buffy.  margined  above  and 
below  by  blackish  streaks  ;  a  broad  white  or  pale  buffy 
stripe   on    the   cheek;    under   parts,    white    (sometimes. 


especially  in  fall  and  winter  |iluniage.  tinged  with 
buffy  on  chest  and  sides)  with  sides  of  throat,  chest, 
sides,  and  flanks  conspicuously  streaked  with  blackish, 
the  streaks  on  chest  wedge-shaped,  those  on  throat 
coalesced  into  a   stripe. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Xest:  Level  with  ground,  gen- 
erally well  concealed  in  tall  grass  or  tussock ;  a  sparse 
collection  of  grass  and  weed  stalks;  lined  or  not. 
E(;(..s :  4  or  5,  ground  color  varying  from  bluish-white 
to  grayish-white,  spotted,  speckled,  and  blotched  with 
brown  and  lavender,  sometimes  so  thickly  as  to  be 
obscured. 

Distribution. —  Eastern  Xorth  .\merica;  breeding 
from  Connecticut,  Pennsylvania  (Bradford,  Crawford, 
Clinton,  Elk,  and  Erie  counties).  Ontario,  northwestern 
Indiana  (Calumet,  P^nglish,  and  Wolf  Lakes),  etc., 
northward  to  Ungava  (Fort  Chimo),  western  side  of 
Hudson  Bay,  etc.;  migrating  south  ni  winter  to  Gulf 
coast,   Bahamas,   and   Cuba;   casual    in    Bermudas. 


The  Aleutian  Savannah  .Sparrow  or  Sandwich 
Sparrow  (Passerculus  saiidn'ichnisis  saiidicich- 
ciisis)  is  the  typical  bird  of  this  species.  lie 
breeds  on  LInalaska  Island  anrl  in  the  winter 
comes  east  and  south  along  the  coast  to  British 
Columbia  and  occasionally  to  northern  Califor- 
nia. The  san(i7vichcusis  part  of  his  scientific 
name  refers  to  his  being  first  found  on  Sandwich 
Island  in  the  .Meutians  bv  a  Russian.    The  better 


known  member  of  this   family,  however,  is  the 
.Savannah  Sparrow. 

The  peculiarity  of  this  otherwise  rather  com- 
monjilace  bird  is  its  habit  of  singing  from  the 
ground.  This  is  very  unusual  with  birds  which 
have  any  song  at  all ;  for  though  the  habit  of 
singing  from  a  more  or  less  cons])icuous  perch 
is  clearly  an  inherently  dangerous  one,  since  it 
nnist  have  the  effect  of  attracting  the  notice  of  the 


26 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


singer's  natural  enemies,  it  is  i)ersisted  in  by  all 
but  a  very  few  American  s])ecies,  the  law  of  the 
"  survival  of  the  fittest  "  to  the  contrary  notwith- 
standing. In  point  of  fact,  however,  the  Savan- 
nah's song  is  a  rather  insignificant  elTort.  Dr. 
Jonathan  Dwight  describes  it  as  "  a  weak,  musi- 
cal little  trill  following  a  grasshopper-like  intro- 
duction, and  is  of  such  small  volume  that  it  can  be 
heard  but  a  few  rods."  As  the  sun  sinks  and  the 
quiet  of  evening  deepens  the  tsip-tsip-tsip  se-e-e- 
s'r-r-r  (  Dwight )  is  sung  more  frequently  and  is 
audible  for  a  greater  distance.  The  bird's  best 
known  note  is  a  sharp  tsip,  frequently  heard 
when  it  is  migrating  and  still  more  frequently 
during  the  breeding  season.  This  note  seems  to 
be  used  either  to  express  alarm  or  to  scold. 

The  Savannah  is  primarily  a  bird  of  the  fields, 
especially  those  near  the  coast,  and  is  likely  to 
be  mistaken  for  any  of  several  other  field  Spar- 
rows, for  the  Vesper,  probably,  more  often  than 
others ;  but  careful  study  of  the  bird's  coloration, 
plus  its  ground-singing  habit,  will  make  its  iden- 
tification comparatively  easy. 

The  Savannah  is  one  of  the  most  useful  of  the 
Sparrows.    Nearly  half  of  its  food  consists  of  in- 


sects, beetles  being  most  eagerly  sought,  and  in 
winter  it  consumes  large  quantities  of  grass  seeds 
and  weed  seeds.  Individuals  taken  in  cotton 
fields  in  winter  were  found  to  have  eaten  a 
number  of  boll  weevils. 

In  western  North  America,  breeding  in  Alaska 
but  ranging  south  to  Mexico,  is  the  Western  Sa- 
vannah Sparrow  (Passcrcuhis  sandimchensis 
alaudiniis) .  It  is  about  the  same  size  as  the 
eastern  species  but  the  coloration  is  decidedlv 
paler  and  grayer. 

Other  members  of  this  group  are :  Bryant's 
Sparrow  {Passcrcuhis  saudzinchciisis  br\<anti), 
somewhat  smaller  and  darker  than  the  Savannah 
and  found  in  the  salt  marshes  along  the  coast  of 
California;  Belding's  Sparrow  (Passcrcnliis 
bcldhuji),  still  darker  in  coloration  than  Bryant's 
and  found  in  the  salt  marshes  of  southern  and 
Lower  California;  and  the  Large-billed  .Sparrow 
{Passcrcnliis  rostratiis  rostratiis),  differing  as 
its  name  suggests  in  the  size  of  the  bill  and  also 
in  not  having  the  upper  parts  conspicuously 
streaked ;  this  Sparrow  is  also  found  in  the  salt 
marshes  of  southern  California  and  Lower 
California. 


GRASSHOPPER  SPARROW 

Ammodramus  savannarum  australis   Maynard 

A.    O.    U.    Xumber    =.46        See   Coh.r    I'late   81 


Other  Names. —  Quail  Siiarrow ;  Yellow-winged 
Sparrnw- 

General  Description. —  Lengtli,  4' j  inches.  Upper 
parts,  gray,  buff,  brown,  and  black,  mixed  ;  under  parts, 
whitish.  Wing,  short:  tail,  short  and  the  featliers 
narrow   and   lance-likc. 

Color. — Adults  in  Summer:  Crown,  blackish  nar- 
rowly streaked  with  light  gray  or  grayish  buffy  and 
divided  centrally  by  a  distinct  tine  of  pale  grayish 
buff;  rest  of  upper  parts,  mixed  grayish,  pale  buffy, 
rusty  brown,  and  black,  the  last  prevailing  on  back 
and  shoulders,  where  forming  large  central  or  median 
spots:  hindneck,  grayish  streaked  with  chestnut,  the 
chestnut  streaks  sometimes  black  centrally :  feathers 
of  rump,  streaked  or  spotted  with  rusty  brown,  the 
streaks  sometimes  black  basally ;  wings,  dusky  with 
distinct  pale  buffy  grayish  edgings  ;  the  lesser  coverts, 
mostly  yellowish  olive  passing  into  yellow  on  edge  of 
wing;  sides  of  head,  including  broad  stripe  over  eye, 
dull  buffy,  paler  and  more  grayish  on  lores,  the  region 
above  lores  yellowish;  a  dusky  streak  behind  eye; 
under  parts,  buffy  becoming  white  or  nearly  so  on  lower 
breast,  abdomen,  and  under  tail-coverts ;  bill,  brown, 
paler  on  the  edge  and  below ;  iris,  brown.  Adults 
IN  Winter:  Similar  to  summer  plumage,  but  brighter 
colored,  with  less  black  and  more  of  chestnut  on  upper 


parts;  the  center  crown-stripe,  deeper  buffy;  the  hind- 
neck  broadly  streaked  with  chestnut;  the  space  be- 
tween the  shoulders  distinctly  edged  with  buff  and 
.gray;  buff  of  under  parts  deeper,  that  of  chest  some- 
times indistinctly  streaked  with  chestnut.  Young  : 
Crown,  dusky  with  an  indistinct  center  stripe  of  pale 
.grayish,  and  indistinctly  streaked  with  the  same,  or 
with  pale  brownish ;  hindneck  streaked  with  dusky 
and  pale  buffy  grayish;  back  and  shoulders,  dusky 
or  dull  blackish  ;  the  feathers  distinctly  margined  with 
dull  buffy  and  pale  grayish ;  middle  and  greater 
wing-coverts,  margined  terminally  with  dull  buffy 
whitish;  under  parts,  dull  buffy  whitish;  the  chest  and 
sides  of  head  streaked  with  dusky ;  no  yellow  over 
lores  nor  on  edge  of  wing. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest  :  On  ground  or  sunk  level, 
in  dry  fields,  clearings,  or  pastures,  and  well  concealed ; 
bulky ;  built  of  dried  grass,  sometimes  semi-arched  with 
deep  interior.  Eggs  :  3  to  5,  clear  white,  spotted  and 
specked  rather  sparsely,  chiefly  around  large  end,  witli 
chestnut,   black,   and   lilac  gray. 

Distribution. —  Eastern  United  States  and  more 
southern  British  Provinces;  west  to  edge  of  the  Great 
Plains  ;  north,  in  summer,  to  Maine,  New  Hampshire, 
Ontario,  etc. ;  south,  in  winter,  to  Bahamas,  Cuba, 
island  of  Cozumel,  Yucatan,  and  Gulf  coast  of  Me.xico. 


Courlesyul    tlio  N,-w  York  Stale  Mus.-urr 


Plate  8i 


HENSLOWS   SPARROW 
Pasm-h,rlmli,.i  h.naln.n   li,„.-,l,m'i  (Auauhmi) 
LECONTE'S  SPARROW 
l'„s«,rli,rhulu.^  Immlr,  ( Aucliihiiii) 


IPSWICH    SPARROW 
ra-isirrulux  pnii, ;■,,.■<  M;ivnaril 
SHARP-TAILED    SPARROW 
Pn.-<s,Thirl,ulu.s  niuil.ifutu.-:  iCliicIiii,! 


■a 

SAVANNAH    SPARROW 
PaN«Ti-i</(/,v  sajirfir;,-/,,:«»,,<  xnm,i„„  (Wilson) 
SEASIDE    SPARROW 
P.,^«,rl„rl,„/„s  mnrilimu.i  manbmus  (VVilsonI 
ACADIAN    SHARP-TAILED   SPARROW 
Pai.'or/artmhi^  „,l.<„,i,  .^„hi'n;,;,lu  ^  (Dwicllt) 
NELSON'S  SPARROW 
/'„»»«■/»•;■).„/«»  «,/.so„,  „,b<,„,  (AlU-ri) 


FINCHES 


It  is  unfortunate  that  this  bird  should  over 
h:i\(.-  received  the  descriptive  desig-nation,  "  yel- 
low-winged," since  the  ])atch  of  color  which 
ap].)ears  on  its  shoulders  does  not  justify  that  de- 
scription. Consequently,  the  absence  of  yellow- 
wings  is  likely  to  mislead  an  observer  who  re- 
members that  the  bird  has  been  so  described. 
And  this  likelihood  is  increased  by  the  extreme 
shyness  of  the  bird,  and  its  decided  disinclina- 
tion to  sit  still  in  plain  view  if  it  sees  it  is  being 
observed.  Under  such  conditions  it  is  almost 
certain  to  dive  into  the  nearest  cover.  So  the 
observer  will  have  to  use  his  eyes  quickly  and 
to  note  accurately  the  comparatively  inconspicu- 
ous marking  of  the  plumage. 

The  insect-like,  buzzing  song  of  the  bird 
(  whence  its  name )  is,  however,  quite  distinctive, 
and  can  hardlv  be  mistaken  for  that  of  any  other 
bird  of  the  tields.  It  faintly  suggests  the  song  of 
the  R'.ue-winged  \\"arbler.  which,  however,  is  es- 
sentially a  bird  of  the  woods.  This  .Sparrow  has 
the  skulking  habits  of  most  nf  the  members  of 
his  family  who  live  in  the  fields  and  build  their 
nests  on  the  ground.  .\lso,  like  other  ground 
birds,  the  female,  when  incubating,  will  sit  still 
until  you  are  within  a  few  feet  of  her.  and  then 
leave  her  nest  very  quietly  and  flutter  along  the 
ground,  dragging  her  wings  as  if  she  were  dis- 
abled. This  is  plainly  an  instincti\'e  efTort  to 
attract  attention  to  herself  and  away  from  her 
precious  eggs.  If  one  is  determined  to  discover 
the  nest,  it  is  best  to  stop  short  immediately  the 
bird  is  seen,  try  to  locate  that  spot  exactly,  and 
then  mark  it  with  a  handkerchief,  or  a  stick 
thrust  into  the  ground,  and  long  enough  to  be 
conspicuous.  Then  by  patiently  walking  about 
this  spot  in  circles  of  slightly  increasing  diameter, 
examining  minutely  every  foot  of  the  groimd 
(and  please,  "watch  your  step"),  the  pretty 
secret  may  be  revealed.  But  it  must  be  remem- 
bered that  the  nest  is  built  of  grasses  which 
blend  perfectly  with  the  surroundings,  and  fur- 
thermore, that  it  is  an  almost  completely  en- 
closed structure,  the  entrance  being  at  the  side. 
so  that  it  is  exceedingly  difficult  to  discover  it  un- 
less one  detects  this  little  door,  which  is  often 
itself  partly  concealed. 

If  the  observer  has  a  very  sharp  and  trained 
eye,  he  may  notice  the  almost  imperceptible  path, 
a  few  feet  long,  by  which  the  Sparrow  enters 
and  leaves  her  little  home.  Knowledge  of  this 
trait  is  also  useful  if  one  undertakes  to  find  the 
nest  by  watching  the  bird  until  she  returns  to  it, 
which  will  take  a  deal  of  patience,  if  the  little 
mother  sees  she  is  observed.  If,  however,  the 
bird  leaves  her  perch  on  a  bush,  or   fence  rail. 


an<l  dives  into  the  grass,  wait  a  few  minutes, 
with  your  gaze  concentrated  on  that  spot  and 
then  walk  slowly  and  softly  toward  it  and  mark- 
it.  Friim  here,  by  very  careful  scrutiny  of  the 
ground,  you  n-iay  lie  able  to  discern  the  little  jiath, 
for  the  bird  never  flies  directly  to  her  nest. 
These  suggestions  have  been  offered,  because  to 
lind  a  (Grasshopper  Sjiarrow's  nest  is  a  real  tri- 
umph in  field  ornithology  —  one,  indeed,  which 
many  a  trained  observer  has  never  accomjilished. 
The  vegetable  food  of  the  Grasshopper  Spar- 
row is  of  little  importance  when  compared  with 
that  of  other  species.  Grain  forms  2  per  cent,  of 
the    food :    weed    'iccd    amr)mits    to    about    one- 


Courtesy  of  Am.  Mus.  Nat.  Hist. 
GRASSHOPPER  SPARROW  (I  nat.  size) 
An  extremely  shy  little  bird  of  the  fields 

fourth.  Insects  form  its  staple  diet,  and  of 
these,  beetles,  grasshoppers,  and  caterpillars  are 
the  most  important.  As  a  destroyer  of  insect 
pests  the  Grasshopper  Sparrow  is  most  efficient, 
and,  both  its  vegetable  and  animal  food  consid- 
ered, it  seems  to  be  individually  the  most  useful 
species  of  bird  whose  food  habits  have  been 
thus  far  investigated. 

The  typical  species  of  the  Grasshopper  Spar- 
row family  is  the  Antillean  Grasshopper  Sparrow 
{.liiiuiodmiiiiis  saz'aiiiiaruiii  siwannanmi) :  it  is  a 
resident  of  Jan-iaica  and  Porto  Rico  and  is  sim- 
ilar to  the  Grasshopper  Sparrow  of  eastern 
Xorth  America  but  decidedly  smaller  and  darker. 
In  the  western  United  States  and  south  over  the 
])lains  of  Mexico,  is  found  the  Western  Grass- 
hopper Sparrow  (Auimodramus  savannarum  bi- 
)iiaciilattis) .  This  western  species  is  the  sanie  size 
as  the  eastern.  Init  of  a  paler  coloration  ;ind  with 
more  rusty  brown  and  less  black  on  the  upper 
jiarts. 


28 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


HENSLOW'S  SPARROW 

Passerherbulus  henslowi  henslowi  (Audubon) 


Other  Name. —  Henslow's  Bunting. 

General  Description. —  Length.  s'A  inches.  Upper 
parts,  chestnut,  black,  and  white,  mixed ;  under  parts, 
whitish.  Bill,  stout ;  wing,  short  ;  tail,  not  longer  than 
wing,   and   graduated. 

Color. —  Adults:  Head  and  neck,  buffy  olive,  the 
crown  heavily  streaked,  except  along  center  line,  with 
black,  the  hindneck,  more  narrowly  streaked  ;  back 
and  shoulders,  chestnut,  the  feathers  black  centrally 
and  narrowly  edged  or  margined  with  whitish  ;  wings, 
mainly  chestnut ;  chin  and  throat,  pale  buff  or  buffy 
whitish ;  chest,  sides,  and  flanks,  deeper  buffy  streaked 
with  blackish  ;  abdomen,  whitish.    Young  :    Above,  dull 


See   Color   Plate  8i 

brownish-buffy,  streaked  and  spotted  with  black ;  be- 
neath, light  buff,  the  sides  streaked  with  dusky. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest  :  In  old  clearings,  pasture 
lands,  or  fresh  water  meadows,  on  the  ground  under  a 
clump  of  grass;  built  of  grass,  lined  with  fine  blades 
and  some  horse-  or  cow-hair.  Eggs  :  4  or  5,  pale 
greenish  or  grayish  white,  heavily  spotted  and  blotched 
with  shades  of  brown  and  lavender. 

Distribution. —  Eastern  United  States,  west  to  edge 
of  Great  Plains,  north  to  New  Hampshire,  New  York, 
Ontario,  Minnesota,  etc.;  breeding  south  at  least  to 
38°  ;  wintering  from  about  the  same  latitude  to 
southern   Florida  and  Texas. 


Henslow's  Sparrow  never  will  be  a  very  popu- 
lar bird.  It  is  only  a  plain  striped  Sparrow,  its 
song  is  quite  insignificant,  its  breeding  home  is 
within  inaccessible  wet  meadows,  and  it  is  very 
retiring.  It  is  really  not  so  very  rare  in 
southern  New  Jersey  and  Maryland  and  across 
the  weedy  prairies  of  southern  Indiana  and  Illi- 
nois. In  many  parts  of  northern  Missouri  and 
across  Iowa  to  southern  Minnesota,  it  is  actually 
common.  It  may  not  be  as  rare  as  has  been 
supposed  in  the  northern  part  of  its  range,  that 
is,  in  the  northeastern  States  and  southern  Can- 
ada ;  but  only  a  keen  ear  will  notice  the  explosive 
Chc-sUck  notes   far  off  in  the  weeds  or  marsh 


tussocks.  The  song  as  written  bv  P.  L.  Jotiy  is 
sis-r-r-rit-srif-srif.  and  this  is  as  easily  tin- 
noticed  as  in  that  of  the  Grasshopper  Sparrow 
that  sings  its  summery  lay  in  the  hearing  of 
thousands  of  people  who  never  hear  it  at  all,  be- 
cause a  little  distance  makes  the  notes  just  the 
simple  buzz  of  spring  and  suminer.  The  aggres- 
sive bird  student,  however,  who  sees  and  hears 
everything,  has  made  an  acquaintance  of  this 
little  brown  .Sparrow  with  its  pale  olive-green 
head. 

In  the  winter  Henslow's  Sparrows  are  found 
most  commonly  throughout  the  south  in  the 
broom  sedge  of  the  dry  fields.     As  tliese  fields 


HENSLOW'S  SPARROW  (J  nat.  size) 

But    few    bird    lovers    know    this    plain    striped 
Sparrow 

Courtesy  of  Am.  Mus.  Nat.  Hist. 


iCj^^^' 


A^T 


'^: 


FINCHES 


29 


are  iu'.t,'lfCU'(l  in  winter  and  tlie  S|)arro\vs  call 
but  rarely,  the  people  of  tlie  s(]uth  know  the 
bird  even  less  than  do  the  people  of  the  north. 
Because  of  its  small  mniiliers  and  irregular 
local  distribution  Henslow's  Sparrow  is  of  little 
econoniic  importance.  Beetles,  cutworms,  grass- 
hoppers, soldier  inigs,  assassin  bugs,  spiders, 
blackberries,  grass,  and  plant  seeds  have  been 
found  in  the  stomachs  exaniineil  by  the  mem- 
bers of  the  United  States  Biological  Survey. 


There  is  a  ])aler  race  of  Henslow's  S|)arrows 
in  South  Dakota  that  is  called  the  \\'cstern  Hens- 
low's .Sparrow  { I'asscrlicrbuliis  hciislozci  ocri- 
ili-ii  talis). 

<  )n  the  |)rairie  marshes  of  the  Mississippi 
valley  and  of  the  central  Canadian  provinces, 
southeastward  in  winter,  is  another  very  similar 
species,  known  as  Leconte's  Sparrow  { Passcr- 
hcrhiiliis  Iccontci).      (See  Color   Plate  81.) 

L.  Nelson  Nichols. 


SHARP-TAILED  SPARROW 

Passerherbulus  caudacutus  (  Ginclin] 

A.    O.    U.    Numl.LT    S49         S<;e    Color    I'latc   .Si 


General  Description. —  Length,  5'j  inches.  Upper 
parts,  olive-l)r<nvn  :  under  parts,  whitish  ;  streaked  ahove 
and  below.  tJill,  stout;  wing,  short;  tail,  rounded, 
the  feathers  sharp-pointed. 

Color. — Adults  :  Broad,  sharply  delined,  and  con- 
spicuous stripe  over  eye  and  broad  cheek  stripe,  deep 
bufT,  the  latter  curving  upward  behind  the  ears,  but 
separated  from  the  stripe  on  the  eye  by  a  narrow  black 
or  dark  brown  stripe  back  of  the  eye ;  ear  region, 
grayish  ;  crown,  clear  bister  brown  streaked  with  black, 
divided  by  a  broad  but  not  sharply  defined  center 
stripe  of  grayish;  prevailing  color  of  upper  parts, 
olivaceous,  grayer  on  sides  of  hindneck  and  rump,  the 
shoulders  and  between  decidedly  darker  olive-brown, 
sharply  edged  with  pale  grayish  or  bufi'y  whitish,  pro- 
ducing distinct  streaks  which  are  margined  internally 
by    a    narrower    blackish    streak;    crf</r    of    icing,    pair 


yclluic:  under  parts,  mostly  white,  but  the  chest,  sides, 
and  flanks  tinged  witli  butf,  sharply  and  usually  con- 
spicuously streaked  with  dusky.  YouNc; :  Crown, 
blackish  divided  by  a  narrow  center  stri(<e,  or  series  of 
streaks,  of  dull  bulify;  general  color  of  upper  parts, 
light  bufi'y  brownish,  the  shoulders  and  between  broadly 
edged  with  buflFy,  (Producing  conspicuous  streaks; 
under  parts,  huffy,  deepest  on  chest  and  sides,  where 
streaked,  narrowly,  with  dusky ;  the  abdomen,  some- 
times nearly  white. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest  :  Always  in  salt  meadow 
grass,  sometimes  concealed  like  the  Seaside  Sparrow's 
under  a  bit  of  drift  sedge;  constructed  of  the  same 
materials  as  that  bird's.  Eggs  :  4  or  5,  pale  brownish 
or    greenish    white,    profusely    specked    with    chestnut. 

Distribution. — Atlantic  coast  of  United  States; 
breeding  from  Massachusetts  southward. 


The  Shar])-tailed  Sparrow  is  a  bird  of  the  salt- 
water marshes  along  the  coast  of  New  England 
and  New  York.  It  has  a  peculiar  habit  of  perch- 
ing on  a  perpendicular  reed  stalk,  where  it 
manages,  by  spreading  its  feet  wide  apart,  to 
assume  a  ])artly  upright  position.  On  the  ground 
it  runs  about  with  its  head  lowered,  among  the 
tussocks,  like  a  mouse,  and  it  is  apt  to  resort  to 
this  method  of  escaping  observation,  rather  than 
to  flight.  A  distinguishing  peculiaritv  is  the 
form  of  its  tail,  which  is  rather  long,  and  tapers 
to  a  point,  instead  of  being  s(|uare  at  the  end  as 
is  that  of  the  .Savannah  .Sparrow;  hence,  of 
course,  its  name.  A  distinctive  plumage  marking 
is  the  bufTy  line  over  the  eye  and  on  the  sides 
of  the  throat.  Its  song,  like  that  of  the  Seaside 
-Sparrow,  is  short  and  unmusical. 

The  food  habits  of  the  Sharp-tailed  Sparrow 
have  inany  striking  peculiarities.  The  bird  shows 


a  gretiter  liking  than  most  species  for  bugs,  and 
about  half  of  those  eaten  are  leaf-hoppers. 
1  hese  are,  it  is  trtie,  wonderfully  abundant  in 
the  moist,  grassy  j^laces  where  this  Sparrow 
lives,  but  they  are  not  often  eaten  by  other  birds 
that  inhabit  the  same  kinds  of  places.  Of  the 
true  bugs  —  that  is,  those  belonging  to  the  heter- 
opterous  division — both  the  smaller  plant-feeding 
;md  predacious  species  are  eaten.  Perhaps  the 
most  curious  feature  of  the  bird's  food  habits  is 
the  liking  shown  for  flies.  These  insects,  mainly 
midges  and  their  larvpe,  certain  allied  insects,  and 
the  smaller  adult  horseflies,  constitute  3  per  cent, 
of  the  food,  probably  a  larger  proportion  of  flies 
than  characterizes  the  food  of  any  other  birds 
except  Flycatchers  and  those  shore-inhabiting 
species  in  the  Far  North  which  feed  so  exten- 
sively on  midges. 

There  is  a  difference  in  the  food  of  the  -Sharp- 


30 


BIRDS    OF   AMERICA 


tailed  Sparrows  collected  by  salt  water  and 
those  taken  near  fresh  water,  owing,  no  doubt, 
to  differences  of  environment.  The  salt-water 
birds  feed  on  the  seeds  of  salt  grasses  and  occa- 
sionally eat  wild  rice ;  the  fresh-water  birds  eat 
other  grasses.  The  salt-water  birds  eat  many 
sand  fleas  which  are  very  abundant  along  the 
beach,  and  the  birds  pick  them  up  either  on 
the  clear  sand  or  amid  the  seaweed  or  other 
shore  debris.  The  fresh-water  birds  do  not  eat 
snails,  while  the  others  seem  to  find  them  very 
palatable.  Birds  collected  in  fresh-water  marshes 
had  fed  on  army  worms. 

Nelson's  Sparrow  (Passcrlicrbiilus  nclsoiii 
lu-lsoiii).  also  known  as  Nelson's  Finch  and  as 
Nelson's  Sharp-tailed  Sparrow,  is  decidedly 
smaller  than  the  Sharp-tailed  Sparrow.     Its  col- 


oration is  much  brighter,  the  white,  ])ale  grayish, 
or  [jale  buffy  streaks  of  back  and  shoulders  more 
sharply  contrasted  with  the  rich  brown  or  olive 
ground-color.  It  breeds  in  the  Mississippi  valley 
northward  and  winters  along  the  Gulf  coast; 
occasionally  it  visits  the  Atlantic  coast  during 
migrations.     (See  Color  Plate  8i.) 

More  plainly  colored  than  either  the  Sharp- 
tailed  or  the  Nelson's  is  the  .\cadian  Sharp-tailed 
Sparrow  { Passcrlicrbiilus  iiclsoni  siihvirgatns) 
which  makes  its  home  in  the  salt-water  marshes 
of  the  Atlantic  coast  of  the  United  States  and 
the  adjacent  Canadian  provinces.  The  conspicu- 
ous lighter  streaks  on  the  back  and  shoulders 
are  lacking  in  this  member  of  the  family  or  else 
they  are  not  strongly  contrasted  with  the  ground 
color.     (See  Color  Plate  8i.j 


SEASIDE    SPARROW 
Passerherbulus  maritimus  maritimus  (  Wilson  ) 

.\.    O.    V.    Xiiml.cr    550       Ste    Color    I'late   81 


Other   Names. —  Meadow    Chippy  ;    Seaside   Finch. 

General  Description. —  Length,  6  inches.  Upper 
!)arts.  oHve-grayish.  streaked  ;  under  parts,  white.  Bill, 
stout:  wing,  short;  tail,  rounded,  the  feathers  sharp- 
pointed. 

Color. — Adults:  Above,  olive-grayish  tinged  with 
olive  especially  on  back,  where  feathers  are  somewhat 
darker  with  light  grayish  edges  producing  streaks; 
crown,  olive  laterally,  grayish  medially,  producing  three 
broad  but  very  indistinct  and  faintly  contrasted  stripes ; 
a  stripe  on  the  cheek,  chin,  throat,  and  abdomen,  white ; 
strif'c  under  the  check  and  broad  streaks  on  chest, 
grayish;  edge  of  xving,  yellozv.  Young:  Above, 
browner   than   in   adult,   the   back   broadly   and   crown 


narrowly  streaked  with  blackish;  beneath,  whitish; 
the  chest,  sides,  and  flanks  buffy  and  streaked  with 
dusky. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nkst  :  Placed  in  the  areas  of 
fine  marsh  grass,  usually  beneath  dead  drift  patches  of 
grass,  above  normal  high-water  mark  {many  nests 
are  destroyed  every  year  by  extra  high  tides)  ;  con- 
structed almost  entirely  of  dried  grass,  lined  with 
finer  blades.  Eggs  :  4  or  5,  pale  greenish  or  pale 
brownish  white,  finely  spotted  all  over  and  wreathed 
at  large  end  with  rufous  and  dull  purple. 

Distribution. — Atlantic  coast  of  United  States,  in 
salt-water  marshes,  breeding  from  southern  Massachu- 
setts {Westport,  near  Rhode  Island  line)  to  Georgia. 


.'\s  its  name  indicates,  the  .Seaside  .Sparrow  is 
a  land  bird  which,  nevertheless,  evidentlv  loves 
the  sotmd  and  the  sight  of  the  ocean,  for  it 
is  most  frequently  found  in  the  salt  marshes 
along  the  Atlantic  coast  from  Rhode  Island 
southward.  It  often  has  as  companions  Savan- 
nah, Sharp-tailed,  Swamp,  or  Song  Sparrows 
from  any  of  which  it  may  be  distinguished  by 
its  lack  of  the  reddish  cast  of  color,  more  or  less 
of  which  is  shown  in  their  i)Iumage,  and  by  its 
blunt  tail.  Its  song,  of  four  or  five  notes,  can 
hardly  be  considered  musical ;  it  is  delivered  from 
atop  a  reed,  or  sometimes  as  the  bird  flutters  a 
few  feet  upward. 


There  are  four  varieties  of  the  Seaside  Spar- 
row found  in  dift'ercnt  localities  in  the  south- 
eastern United  States.  Macgillivray's  Seaside 
.Sparrow  ( Passcrlicrbiilus  iiiaritiiiiiis  macgilli- 
vraii)  is  found  on  the  Atlantic  coast  from  South 
Carolina  to  Florida  and,  in  winter,  along  the 
Gulf  coast;  in  coloration  it  is  darker  than  the 
Seaside  and  its  back  is  distinctly  and  often 
broadly  streaked  with  black.  Scott's  Seaside 
Sparrow  (Passcrlicrbiilus  iiiariliiiiiis  peninsula:') 
is  similar  to  Macgillivray's.  but  the  coloration  of 
the  upper  parts  is  more  uniform,  the  markings 
being  less  sharjilv  contrasted  with  the  general 
color;  it  inhabits  the  west  coast  of  Florida.    The 


FINCHES 


31 


Louisiana  Seaside  Sparrow  or  Fislier's  Seaside 
Sparrow  {Passcrhcrhiihis  luariliiiiiis  fi^iicri)  is 
niucli  darker  than  Macgillivray's,  often  tlu-  black- 
on  the  upper  parts  exceeding  the  olive-gray,  and 
the  ground  color  of  the  underparts  being  deep 
bufTy  ;  it  breeds  on  the  coast  of  Louisiana  and 
in  winter  is  distributed  along  the  coast  of  Texas 
and  on  the  west  coast  of  Florida.  The  fourth 
variety  is  the  Texas  Seaside  S]>arrow  (  Passcr- 
hcrbuhis  iiwritiiiuix  sciiiirtfi).  .\s  its  name 
would  indicate,  it  is  found  along  the  coast  of 
Texas.  It  is  smaller,  paler,  and  much  more  buffv 
than  the  Seaside,  with  the  shoulders  and  the 
space  between  distinctly  darker  than  the  rest  of 
the  upper  i)arts. 


that  this  species  is  abundant  and  that  the 
region  it  inhabits  is  in  no  sense  isolated,  but  that 
both  to  the  north  aiul  the  south  there  are  marshes 
apparently  simil.ar  to  those  it  occupies,  the  re- 
striction of  its  range  to  an  area  onh-  a  few  square 
miles  in  extent  makes  its  distrilnition  unique 
among   North   American  birds." 

The  food  habits  of  the  Seaside  Sparrow  and 
the  .Shar]>tailed  .Sparrow  are  very  similar  both 
in  elements  and  in  the  proportions  of  the  food. 
There  are,  however,  some  minor  differences  of 
details.  Thus,  the  .Seaside  .Sparrow  does  not 
take  nearly  so  many  sand  fleas  as  its  congener, 
but  it  feeds  on  small  crabs  which  so  far  as 
known  form  no  part  of  the  food  of  the  Sharp- 


SEASIDE  SPARROW   '  ;  nat.  si! 


Closely  allied  to  the  Seaside  .S])arriiw  ])Ut  cun 
stituting  a  different  s])ecies  is  the  Dusky  .Seaside 
Sparrow  [  Fasscrlicrbiiliis  iiif/rcscciis  ) .  Its  gen- 
eral coloratiiin  above  is  lilrul^.  indistinctl\'  streak- 
ed with  olive  .and  gr,i\ish  ;  the  wing  and  tail 
feathers  are  edged  witli  oli\'e-brown  :  tlu-  under 
])arts  are  white  thickly  and  broadly  streaked 
with  black:  the  ed.ge  of  the  wing  and  ;i  s|)ot 
above  the  lores  are  ganibo,ge-yellow.  It  is  found 
in  the  marshes  at  the  northern  end  of  the  Indian 
River,  east  coast  of  Florida.  Of  this  species. 
Dr.    Chapman    says:      "In    view    of    the    fact 


tailed  .Sparrow.  I'.ecause  of  the  limited  distribu- 
tion of  these  birds  they  pr(jbabl\'  do  not  come 
in  contact  to  any  great  extent  with  cultivated 
cro|)s.  In  so  far  as  they  destro\-  insect  enemies 
of  s.alt-marsh  hay  they  are  hel])ful.  and  in  so 
far  as  they  destroy  enemies  of  insects  which 
prey  upon  this  crop,  they  are  harmful :  but  other- 
wise they  exercise  little  influence  on  agriculture. 
The  birds  do  not  prey  on  the  s.alt-marsh  cater- 
pillars, so  destructive  to  the  hay.  and  thev  de- 
stroy a  considerable  amoitnt  of  the  seed  of  the 
marsh  grasses. 


LARK  SPARROW 

Chondestes  grammacus  grammacus  (Sav) 


Other  Names.— Quail-head;  Kuad-bird  ;  Lark  Finch; 
Little   Meadnwlark. 

General  Description.—  Length,  b'/'.  inches.  Upper 
I)arts,  bro\vnish-Kra.v  streaked  with  blackish ;  under 
parts,  white.  Hill,  stout;  wings,  long  and  pointed; 
tail,  \ong  and  rounded  ;  feet,  small. 

Vol.  III.  — 4 


Color. — .'\dults  :  Crown  and  ear  region,  chestnut, 
the  former  with  a  center  stripe  of  pale  brownish-gray 
or  grayish-bulif ;  over  eye  a  broad  stripe  of  white, 
becoming  buffy  toward  the  rear;  under  eye  a  large 
white  crescent-shaped  spot;  under  farts,  white  l)econn'ng 
bufTy    grayish-brown    on    sides    and    flanks:    tlie    cliest 


32 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


tinge'd  with  the  same  and  marked  in  center  witli  a 
blackish  spot ;  back,  shoulders,  lesser  wing-coverts,  and 
upper  tail-coverts,  brownish-gray  or  grayish-brown 
(hair-brown):  the  back  and  shoulders  broadly 
streaked  'a'itli  blaek;  wings  (except  lesser  coverts"), 
dusky  with  light  grayish-brown  edgings,  the  middle 
coverts  tipped  with  white  (producing  a  rather  distinct 
band),  and  the  eighth  to  fifth  or  fourth  primaries  with 
white  at  the  base  (producing  a  patch)  ;  middle  pair 
of  tail-feathers,  dusky  grayish-brown,  the  remaining 
feathers  black,  abruptly  tif'f'ed  icilh  'd'hite.  this  white 
occupying  nearly  if  not  quite  all  the  exposed  terminal 
half  on  outermost  feather  :  iris,  brown. 

Nest    and    Eggs. —  Nest:      Located    usually    on    tlie 


ground  in  prairies  or  dry  open  meadows,  sunk  flush 
with  the  earth,  carefully  concealed ;  constructed  of 
dried  grass,  weed  stalks,  lined  with  finer  similar  mate- 
rial. Eggs  :  3  to  6,  pure  white  or  very  pale  bluish 
or  brownish  white,  with  spots  and  pen  lines  of  sepia 
and  black,  bearing  a  singular  resemblance  to  Oriole 
eggs. 

Distribution. —  Mississippi  valley,  east  of  the  Great 
Plains:  north  to  eastern  Minnesota,  Wisconsin,  and 
southern  Michigan,  east  (regularly)  to  Ohio,  Ken- 
tucky, Tennessee,  etc.,  casually  or  more  rarely  to  Mas- 
sachusetts, Long  Island,  New  Jersey,  Pennsylvania, 
District  of  Columbia,  Virginia,  etc.,  and  (during  migra- 
tion )    Florida. 


Tlie  Lark  Sparrow  is  one  of  the  commonest 
and  most  attractive  of  American  birds.  It  is 
found   in   grass    country   everywhere    except    in 


Drawing  by  R.  I.  Brasher 

LARK  SPARROW  (J  nat.  size) 
A  familiar  bird,  common  on  both  city  iawns  and  rocky  mesas 


the  Alleghenies  and  on  the  Atlantic  coast.  In  the 
southwest  there  is  less  grass  but  plenty  of  sage- 
brush, and  there  the  Lark  Sparrow  is  also 
common.  No  one  can  travel  through  America 
west  of  the  Alleghenies  without  seeing  the  Lark 
Sparrow.  And  no  one  who  has  ever  known  this 
Sparrow  will  ever  forget  how  handsome  he  is 
with  his  chestnut  and  white  head,  one  black  spot 
on  a  white  breast  and  a  white-edged  tail.  He 
runs  ahead  along  the  dusty  road,  he  rises  out 
of  the  June  meadows,  he  walks  across  the  lawns 
of  towns,  he  perches  on  rocks  and  Spanish  bay- 
onet and  sagebrush  and  all  kinds  of  wayside 
bushes.  Even  out  upon  the  flat  and  grassless 
deserts  he  may  be  seen  flying  from  cactus  to 
cactus.  His  absence  from  the  Atlantic  coast 
States  is  the  only  fact  that  prevents  his  being 
one  of  the  best  known  birds  of  America.     Over 


his  great  range  he  is  known  not  only  for  his 
beauty,  btit  also  for  his  friendly  habit  of  nesting 
near  the  farm  buildings  and  villages. 

If  nothing  else  made  the  bird  a  favorite,  his 
melodious,  long,  and  varied  song,  heard  almost 
continuously,  would  make  him  beloved.  It  is  a 
wonder  that  the  poets  have  not  sung  his  praises. 
A  poetic  and  intelligent  people  love  the  Lark 
Sparrow  already.  The  writer  of  poetry  will 
praise  him  in  verse  some  later  year.  The  song 
is  described  by  Ridgway  as  "  one  continued  gush 
of  sprightly  music,  now  gay,  now  melodious,  and 
then  tender  beyond  description  —  the  very  ex- 
pression of  emotion.  At  intervals  the  singer 
falters,  as  if  exhausted  by  exertion,  and  his 
voice  becomes  scarcely  audible ;  but  suddenly 
reviving  in  his  jov  it  is  resumed  in  all  its  vigor 


,  l.v    I     I       H.  i      inir;v  Mf  v,,t,   .A:, '\url. 

NEST  AND  EGGS  OF  LARK  SPARROW 
Always  carefully  concealed 


FLNCHES 


53 


until  he  appears  to  be  really  overcome  by  the 
effort." 

From  the  plains  to  the  coast  the  l.ark  Sparrow- 
is  lighter  colored  than  east  of  the  plains.  This 
makes  a  subspecies,  according  to  the  ornitholo- 
gist ;  and  the  western  form  is  named  the  Western 
Lark  Sparrow  {Chondcstcs  grauimacus  striga- 
tus).  There  is.  however,  no  [practical  difference 
in  the  habits,  song,  and  beauty  of  eastern  and 
western  birds. 

It  is  very  likely  that  the  l.ark  Sparrow  will 
extend  his  range  eastward  in  much  the  same 
way  as  has  the  Prairie  Horned  Lark.  Being  a 
grassland  bird  the  prairie  land  was  the  home  of 


the  bird  before  man  broke  up  the  eastern  forests 
and  made  meadows  and  pastures  suitable  for 
liomes  for  grassland  birds.  Man's  progress  into 
the  West,  creating  a  continuous  area  of  grass- 
land all  the  way  west  to  the  prairies,  has 
made  it  possible  for  the  prairie  birds  to  find  con- 
genial homes  further  east.  So  as  man  has  gone 
west,  some  of  the  western  birds  have  come  east. 
The  food  of  this  Sparrow  is  made  up  of  seeds 
of  weeds,  .grasses,  and  grain,  with  about  27  per 
cent,  of  insects.  It  is  considered  to  be  one  of 
the  most  valuable  of  the  S])arrows  as  a  destrover 
of  grasshoppers. 

L.  Nelson  Nichols. 


HARRIS'S  SPARROW 
Zonotrichia  querula   (Nuttall) 

A.    O.    U,    Number    5,53 


Other  Names. —  Hnod-crowned  Sparrow :  FSIack- 
hood. 

General  Description. —  Length,  7'i  inches.  Upper 
parts,  brown,  streaked  with  blackish  ;  under  parts,  white. 
Bill,  small,  compressed-conical :  wings,  lonu  and 
pointed;  tail,  about  the  length  of  wing,  rounded  or 
slightly  double  rounded. 

Color. — Adults  :  Crown,  cheek  region,  chin,  and 
throat,  uniform  black,  this  extended  over  center  portion 
of  chest  in  the  form  of  a  broad  streaking  or  spotting; 
sides  of  head,  dull  brownish  buf¥y  becoming  more 
grayish  on  sides  of  neck  and  nearly  white  next  to  the 
black  throat-patch,  relieved  by  an  irregular  blackish  or 
dark  brownish  spot  just  back  of  upper  rear  portion  of 
ear  region  ;  hindneck,  brownish  varied  with  blackish ; 
upper  parts,  light  brown  or  buffy  hair-brown  ;  the  back 
and  shoulders,  broadly  streaked  with  brownisli  black ; 
middle    and    greater    wing-coverts,    tipped    with    white 


iir  buffy  white,  producing  two  distinct  bands;  under 
parts  (except  chin,  throat,  and  center  portion  of  chest), 
white,  becoming  dull  hnt'a'iiish  huffy  on  sides  and  flanks, 
where  streaked  witli  l)rown  or  dusky;  iris,  brown. 
Immature  (young  in  first  winter?)  :  Crown  with 
feathers  black  centrally,  but  margined  witli  pale  grayish 
buffy,  producing  a  consi)icuously  scaly  effect ;  throat, 
white,  or  mostly  .so,  witli  black  along  each  side;  middle 
of  chest,  blotched  or  broadly  streaked  with  black  or 
dark   brown. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Probably  but  one  nest  has  been 
discovered. 

Distribution. —  Interior  plains  of  North  America, 
from  eastern  base  of  Rocky  Mountains  to  western 
Missouri,  Iowa,  Minnesota,  Manitoba,  etc.,  occasionally, 
during  migration,  to  Illinois,  and  Wisconsin  ;  breeding 
west  of  Hudson  Bay;  south  in  winter  to  Texas;  acci- 
dental  in  British  Columbia  and  Orc.gon. 


How  modern  is  much  of  our  knowledge  of 
American  birds  is  shown  by  the  fact  that  the 
breeding  range  of  the  Harris's  Sparrow  was  not 
known  in  the  nineteenth  century.  Only  the  in- 
vestigation of  the  country  west  of  Hudson's  Bay 
made  since  1900  has  established  that  country 
as  the  nesting  home  of  this  bird.  In  the  United 
States  it  is  distinctly  a  bird  of  the  Missouri 
River  basin,  not  to  breed,  to  he  sure,  but  to 
haunt  for  half  the  year  the  shrubberv  along  the 
river  bottoms  and  the  thickets  along  the  smaller 
streams.      In    fact   what   the    Wliite-throat   does 


when  it  comes  down  out  of  the  North  for  three 
seasons,  that  also  does  this  Black-hooded  Spar- 
row. Black-hood  and  White-throat  are  members 
of  the  same  genus,  but  the  former  has  the  more 
restricted  area.  Black-hood  will  chirp  much  in 
the  same  tone  as  the  White-throat,  will  seldom 
rise  much  above  the  bushes,  and  haunts  the 
damper  places  in  the  thickets  to  rustle  about  in 
the  dead  leaves. 

In  the  spring  the  Black-hood's  song,  uttered 
from  the  same  bushes  as  the  ^^^^ite-throat's, 
begins    something    like    the    hvmn-notes    of    the 


34 


BIRDS   OF   AAlERICA 


White-throat.  A  change  suddenly  conies  in  the 
middle  of  the  song  that  makes  it  very  different 
from  the  song  of  any  other  Sparrow.  The  close 
of  the  song  is  harsh  and  drawling,  reminding  one 
of  the  distant  rasp  of  the  Nighthawk. 

When  the  winters  are  severe  in  the  lower 
Missouri  valley,  the  birds  push  on  in  large  num- 
bers to  central  Texas,  only  to  return,  as  a  White- 
throat  would,  to  more  northern  wet  woods  and 
thickets  with  the  first  sign  of  sjiring.  .\t  this 
season  they  are  known  as  Black-hoods,  and  are 
a  welcome  sight  in  the  Dakotas.  where  they  sing 
their  cheerv  songs  from  the  tojimost  twigs  of 
the  scanty  bushes.     Their  size  and  their  colors 


Writing  in  The  Auk,  he  describes  it  thus:  "It 
was  nil  the  ground  under  a  dwarf  birch,  was 
made  of  grass,  and  resembled  the  nest  of  tlie 
\Miite-thruated  Sparrow.  It  contained  three 
young,  nearly  readv  to  fl\'." 

Figures  indicate  that  it  is  advisable  to  afford 
this  species  all  possible  encouragement  and  pro- 
tection. The  report  of  the  United  States  Biologi- 
cal Survey  was  bared  on  the  examination  of  loo 
stomachs.  .\s  is  the  case  with  many  of  the  birds 
that  br(,-ed  for  the  most  part  to  the  north  and 
merely  winter  in  the  United  States,  the  stomach 
contents  wt'i-e  mostly  vegetable  in  character,  the 
animal  matter  amounting  to  but  8  per  cent.     The 


Drawing  by  R.  I.  Brasher 

HARRIS'S  SPARROW  (1  nat.  size) 
A  comparatively  little  known  bird  whose  nest  was  not  discovered  until  1907 


make  them  as  conspicucnis  as  Towhees.  But 
civilization  loses  sight  of  them  during  the  breed- 
ing season  and  through  the  heat  of  summer. 

September,  though,  finds  them  corning  back 
over  the  international  boundary  into  the  upper 
Missouri  valley.  But  now  the  hoods  are  incon- 
spicuous. Most  noticeable  now  are  the  heavy 
markings  underneath  and  the  generally  reddish 
appearance.  In  this  garb  it  is  as  well  to  name 
them  after  Mr.  Harris  as  to  call  them  by  any 
other  name.  The  birds  must  search  far  on  down 
below  the  Arkansas  River  to  find  their  black 
hoods  again. 

The  only  nest  of  this  species  known  was  dis- 
covered  by   Ernest   T.    Seton,   August   5,    1907. 


animal  matter  was  made  up  of  about  the  same 
kinds  of  insects,  spiders,  and  snails  that  enter 
into  the  fare  of  other  Sparrows,  but  the  quantity 
of  leaf  hoppers  was  unusually  large  (2  per  cent. 
of  the  food). 

Of  the  vegetable  food,  _'5  [ler  cent,  was 
made  up  of  the  seeds  of  wild  fruits  and  of 
various  plants  of  uncertain  economic  position;  10 
\>ev  cent,  of  grain,  which  included  more  corn 
than  wheat  and  oats;  0  per  cent,  of  grass  seed, 
mainly  pigeon  grass,  cral)  grass,  June  grass,  and 
Johnson  grass  ;  6  per  cent,  of  the  seeds  of  ama- 
rantli,  lamb's-quarters,  wild  sunflower,  and 
gromwell,  and  42  per  cent,  of  ragweed  and 
])olygonum. 


FINCHES 


35 


WHITE-CROWNED   SPARROW 

Zonotrichia  leucophrys  leucophrys   ( ./.  A',  l',trstcr) 

A.    (X    V     Xiiiiil.or    ^54        See   Color    I'latc   Rj 


Other   Name. —  White-crown. 

General  Description. —  LeiiRth.  6'4  inches.  IMum- 
agc.  gray,  light  liclcnv,  and  dark  with  streaks  nf  hnnvn 
above.  Bill,  small,  compressed-conical ;  w-ings.  long 
and  pointed:  tail,  about  the  length  of  wing,  rounded  or 
slightly   double   rounded. 

Color. — Adults:  Crown,  with  tz^u-i  )<r,Hul  Intrrnl 
bands  of  dccf  black,  iiiclosiun  tt  i  rii/rr  i);;i-  n/  i,7)(7.'  or 
grayish  white  of  appro.ximately  equal  width:  black  of 
forehead  extending  backward  to  the  front  angle  of  the 
eye:  a  white  or  grayish-white  stripe  over  eye  extending 
forward  above  the  eye  nearly  or  quite  as  far  as  its 
front  angle;  hindneck,  sides  of  neck,  and  ear  region, 
plain  gray;  liack  and  shoulders,  light  gray  or  brownish- 
gray  broadly  streaked  with  chestnut-brown  or  vandyke- 
brown ;  rump  and  uiiper  tail-coverts  plain  hair-brown  ; 
tail,  dark  hair-brown  with  paler  edgings ;  middle  and 
.greater  win,a;-coverts,  dusky  grayish-brown,  edged  witli 
pale  hair-brown  and  tii)ped  with  white,  forming  two  dis- 
tinct bands ;  inner  wing-quills  dusky,  margined  ter- 
minally with  whitish,  this  passing  into  chestnut-brown 
toward  basal  portion  of  outer  webs  ;  primaries,  dusky 
hair-brown  narrowly  edged  with  paler;  sides  of  head 
and  neck  and  chest  uniform   rather  light  gray,   fading 


into  nearly  wdiite  on  tliroat.  chin,  and  ahdonien  ;  sides 
and  flanks,  pale  bulTy-brown ;  the  under  tail-coverts 
pale  buffy  or  buffy-whitish ;  iris,  brown. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Ne.st  :  Commonly  placed  on  the 
ground,  in  dry,  high  mountain  meadows  or  clearings, 
sometimes  in  low  Inishes ;  constructed  of  small  twigs, 
.grasses  and  rootlets,  lined  with  fine  .gra'-s  .uid  hair. 
Eggs:  3  to  3.  pale  greenish  bhie  to  dull  pak  brownish 
white,  specked  and  spoiled  with  cliestnnt.  luaviest  at 
large  end. 

Distribution. —  More  eastern  I'.rnish  ]n-ovinces  and 
.greater  part  of  United  Slates;  breeding  from  N'ermont, 
Province  of  Quel)ec,  northeastern  Minnesota  (?).  etc., 
northward  to  west  side  of  Hudson  Bay  and  over 
peninsula  of  I.alirador  to  southern  Greenland,  and 
throughout  tlie  higli  mountain  districts  of  the  western 
United  States,  from  tlie  main  Rocky  Mountain  ranges 
to  the  Sierra  Nevada,  including  the  intermediate 
Uinta  and  Wasatch  ranges ;  breeding  southward  to 
New  Mexico  and  Arizona,  northward  to  northern  Cali- 
fornia;  mi.gratin.g  southward  over  greater  part  of 
eastern  United  .States,  over  Mexican  plateau  and 
throughout   peninsula   of    Lower   California. 


Drawing  by  R.  I.  Brasher 


WHITE-CROWNED  SPARROW  (■  nat.  sizs) 
His  song  has  a  singular  sweetness,  all  its  own 


36 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


By  careless  observers  this  Sparrow  is  often 
mistaken  for  the  White-throat,  though  the  diiTer- 
ence  in  the  coloration  of  the  two  is  very  marked. 
In  the  first  place,  the  White-crown  lacks  entirely 
the  yellow  patch  before  the  eye,  the  white  stripe 
over  the  eye,  and  white  patch  on  the  throat,  all 
of  which  are  conspicuous  markings  of  the  White- 
throat's  plumage.  Then,  too,  the  White-throat's 
head  is  much  more  nearly  flat  on  the  crown  than 
is  the  White-crown's,  which  is  distinctly  dome- 
shaped.  On  the  other  hand.  White-crowns  and 
White-throats  frequently  associate,  and  feed 
together,  and  their  manners  are  not  unlike. 

There  is,  however,  little  similarity  in  the  songs 
of  the  birds,  and  the  \\'hite-throat's  will  be  con- 
sidered the  better  of  the  two  probably  by  most 
listeners.  This  is  by  no  means  intended  to  dis- 
parage the  effort  of  the  White-crowned  minstrel, 
which  has  a  singular  sweetness  and  effective- 
ness all  its  own.  Indeed.  Mr.  Burroughs  con- 
siders the  White-crown  "  a  vastly  finer  songster 
than  the  White-throat."  As  described  by  Mr. 
Mathews,  "  it  is  comjjosed  of  six,  or  at  the  most, 
seven  notes  (unless  it  is  doubled)  ;  the  first  one 
is  twice  as  long  as  the  others  which  are  of  about 
even  value.  The  intervals  are  fairly  accurate 
and  include  anything  from  a  third  to  a  fifth ;  all 
the  notes  are  clearly  whistled  except  (generally) 
the  two  next  to  the  last,  and  these  are  distinctly 
double-toned  or  burred ;  the  whole  is  marked 
by  an  even  crescendo  to  the  highest  note,  which 
is  next  to  or  within  one  of  the  last,  or  some- 
times actually  the  last."  The  song  has  something, 
though  rather  less,  of  the  plaintive  quality  which 


characterizes  that  of  the  White-throat,  and  like 
that  bird's  is  also  often  heard  at  night. 

In  western  North  America  there  are  two  varie- 
ties of  the  White-crowned  Sparrow,  riambel's 
Sparrow  (Zonotrichia  Iciicof^Jirys  (jauibdi)  and 
Nuttall's  Sparrow  {Zoiwtiichia  Iciicoplirys  luit- 
talli).  Gambel's  Sparrow  averages  a  trifle  smaller 
than  the  White-crowned;  its  coloration  is  similar, 
but  the  lores  is  entirely  white,  thus  making  the 
light-colored  stripe  over  the  eye  continuous  to 
the  bill.  Nuttall's  Sparrow  also  has  this  unin- 
terru]jted  stripe,  but  its  general  coloration  is 
much  darker  and  its  size  smaller  than  Gambel's 
Sparrow.  Gambel's  Sparrow  is  not  found  in  the 
Pacific  coast  district  of  the  United  States  while 
that  is  the  home-land  of  Nuttall's  Sparrow. 

Like  most  of  the  family  these  birds  are  seed- 
eaters  by  preference,  and  insects  comprise  very 
little  more  than  7  per  cent,  of  their  diet.  Cater- 
pillars are  the  largest  item,  with  some  beetles, 
a  few  ants  and  wasps,  and  some  bugs,  among 
which  are  black-olive  scales.  The  great  bulk 
of  the  food,  however,  consists  of  weed  seeds, 
which  amount  to  74  per  cent,  of  the  whole.  In 
California  these  birds  have  been  accused  of  eat- 
ing the  buds  and  blossoms  of  fruit  trees,  but 
buds  or  blossoms  were  found  in  only  thirty  out 
of  516  stomachs,  and  probably  it  is  only-  under 
exceptional  circumstances  that  they  do  any  <lam- 
age  in  this  way.  Evidently  neither  the  farmer 
nor  the  fruit  grower  has  much  to  fear  from 
White-crowned  Sparrows.  The  little  fruit  they 
eat  is  mostly  wild,  and  the  grain  eaten  is  waste 
or  volunteer. 


GOLDEN-CROWNED  SPARROW 

Zonotrichia  coronata  ( Pallas) 


A.    <).    U.    Xuinl). 


Other   Name. —  rioldeii-crown. 

General  Description.—  Length,  6.54  inches.  Plum- 
age, gray.  light  below,  and  dark  with  streaks  of  brown 
above.  Bill,  small,  compressed-conical ;  wings,  long 
and  pointed;  tail,  about  the  length  of  wing,  rounded  or 
slightly  double  rounded. 

Color. —  Adult  Male:  Crown,  deep  black,  divided 
medially  by  a  broad  stripe  of  oUvc-yclloiv,  changing 
rather  abruptly  to  light  gray  on  back  of  head :  upper 
parts,  grayish  olive-brown,  the  back  and  shoulders 
broadly  streaked  with  brownish  black,  these  streaks 
with  a  marginal  suffusion  of  chestnut-brown ;  outer 
webs  of  innermost  greater  wing-coverts  and  inner  wing- 
quills  inclining  to  chestnut-brown ;  middle  and  greater 


coverts,  tipped  with  white,  forming  two  distinct  bands ; 
sides  of  head,  dull  grayish  ;  under  parts,  dull  brownish 
gray,  somewhat  paler  on  chin  and  throat,  nearly  white 
on  abdomen.  li,ght  buffy  brownish  color  on  sides  and 
flanks;  under  tail-coverts,  light  grayish-brown  or  drab, 
broadly  margined  with  pale  buffy  ;  iris,  brown.  Adult 
Fem.«,le:  Similar  to  the  male,  sometimes  hardly  dis- 
tinguishable, but  usually  with  the  lateral  black  stripes 
of  the  crown  narrower  and  less  intensely  black,  the 
yellow  of  the  crown-spot  rather  paler,  and  the  gray  of 
back  of  head  streaked  with  dusky.  Immature  (Young 
IN  First  Winter?^)  :  Similar  to  adult  female,  but  with- 
out any  lateral  black  stripe  on  crown  or  well-defined 
center  stripe,  the  whole  forehead  and  front  portion  of 


Coortesy  III    thi;  N,-«  Yn.k  Stat-  MuSf-uri 


Plate  82 


^ip^"'''*  ^»rfej 


SLATE-COLORED  JUNCO 
Jniirii  h;idnalis  lu/frniili.^  (  Linnaeus) 

MALE  FEMALE 


FINCHES 


37 


crown  yellowish  olive,  more  or  less  Hecked  with  dusky, 
the  back  portion  of  the  crown,  liglit  grayish-olive- 
brown,  streaked  with  dusky. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest:  In  alder  thickets  of  Alaska 
streams ;  constructed  of  coarse  grass,  weed  stems, 
rootlets;  lined  with  fine  grass;  quite  large,  and  loosely 
built.  Eggs:  4  or  5,  pale  greenish  blue,  distinctly 
speckled  with  shades  of  brown  and  chestnut. 


Distribution. —  Pacific  coast  and  Bering  Sea  dis- 
tricts of  North  America;  breeding  on  the  Shumagin 
Islands,  Alaska  Peninsula,  Kodiak,  and  more  western 
parts  of  the  Alaskan  mainland;  migrating  southward 
in  winter  through  southern  Alaska,  British  Columbia, 
Washington,  Oregon,  and  California,  to  the  San  Pedro 
Martir  Mountains,  Lower  California,  the  Santa 
Barbara    Islands;    occasional    straggler    eastward. 


Alaska  is  the  home  of  the  Golden-crowned 
Sparrows.  They  nest  during  the  month  of  June. 
After  the  breeding  season,  the  Golden-crowns 
are  somewhat  erratic  in  their  movements.  Some 
stay  in  the  North  for  a  while ;  others  begin  strag- 
gling off  for  the  South,  either  alone  or  in  small 
flocks.  As  a  rule,  the  Golden-crowns  join  with 
the  White-crowned  Sparrows.  Our  acquaint- 
anceship with  the  Golden-crowns  begins  late  in 
the  fall  when  we  ;-ee  a  small  flock  in  the  shrub- 
berv  and  hedgerows  through  California.  It  is 
easy  to  make  friends  with  these  Sparrows  by 
scattering  a  few  crumbs  along  the  paths. 

As  far  as  I  have  observed,  the  Golden-crowns 
<lo  not  sing  much  when  traveling.  I  see  them 
each  fall  on  their  way  through  Oregon,  but  they 
;ire  silent.  I  knew  the  bird  best  about  the  campus 
of  the  University  of  California  at  lierkeley  and 
in  Golden  Gate  Park  at  San  Francisco. 

His  mood  is  different  from  that  of  other  birds. 
It  isn't  the  sun  that  makes  him  joyous;  it  is  the 
rain.  Perhaps  the  lack  of  moisture  in  the  Cali- 
fornia climate  makes  him  homesick.  When  a 
rain  does  come,  it  reminds  him  so  much  of  the 
mist  and  showers  of  his  northern  home  that  he 
cannot  help  breaking  into  song.  The  song  of 
the  Golden-crown,  therefore,  is  always  associated 
in  my  mind  with  a  drizzling  rain.  It  is  a  simple, 
mournful  lay  in  a  high  key.  quite  quavering  at 
times.  It  is  a  minor  strain,  each  note  lowered  a 
half  step. 

In  his  last  book.  Field  Davs  in  California, 
Bradford  Torrey  speaks  of  meeting  the  Golden- 
crowned  Sparrow  at  Paso  Robles.    "  T  was  soon 


close  upon  a  flock  of  Golden-crowned  Sparrows. 
They  were  no  novelty.  I  had  seen  many  like 
them.  P)Ut  these  were  in  song ;  and  that  was  a 
novelty;  a  brief  and  simple  tune,  making  me 
think  of  the  opening  notes  of  the  eastern  White- 
throat,  but  stopping  short  of  that  bird's  rollick- 
ing triplets,  ending  almost  before  it  began,  as 
if  it  had  been  broken  off  in  the  middle,  with  a 
sweetly  plaintive  cadence.  Like  the  White- 
thr(iat's,  and  unlike  the  \\'hite-crown's,  tlie  tone 
is  a  i>ure  whistle,  so  that  the  strain  can  be  imi- 
tated, even  at  first  hearing,  well  enough  to 
excite  the  birds  to  its  repetition.  I  proved  it  on 
the  spot."  William   L.  Fixlev. 

For  the  determination  of  the  food  of  the 
Golden-crowned  Sparrow,  184  stomachs  were 
available.  The  animal  food  amounted  to  0.9 
per  cent.,  vegetable  to  99,1  per  cent.  The  animal 
food  consisted  of  insects  and  was  prettv  well  dis- 
tribtited  among  the  various  orders.  It  was  evi- 
dent that  the  Golden-crowned  does  not  search 
for  insects  and  takes  only  those  that  come  in  its 
way.  The  vegetable  food  consists  of  fruits, 
buds  and  flowers,  grain,  and  some  miscellaneous 
matter.  Fruit  amounted  to  a  little  more  than  I 
per  cent,  of  the  food  and  consisted  of  elderber- 
ries, grapes  and  what  was  thought  to  be  apple. 
Piuds  and  flowers  averaged  29.5  per  cent.,  grain 
nearly  26  per  cent.,  and  weed  seed  33  per  cent. 
This  bird  does  no  direct  harm  to  fruit,  but  by 
the  destruction  of  buds  and  blossoms  it  may  do 
serious  harm  where  it  is  numerous  and  visits 
the  orchards. 


WHITE-THROATED  SPARROW 
Zonotrichia  albicollis   (Gnirlin) 

.\.    n.    V.    \umher    ;^.<!         S.-c   Color    I'l.Ttf   8_- 

Other     Names. —  Pcabody      Bird;     Cherryhird      (in  parts,   rusty-hrown,   streaked   with   black;    under   parts, 

Adirondacks)  ;    Canada    Bird;    White-throated    Crown  while  and  gray.     Bill,  small,  compressed-conical  ;  win.sjs, 

Sparrow;    White-throat;    Nightingale    (in    Manitoba");  long  and  pointed;  tail,  about  length  of  wing,  rounded 

Canada    Sparrow :    Peverly   Bird.  or  slightly  double  rounded. 

General    Description. —  Length,    -'4    inches.      L'pper  Color. — .Xntii.T:      Crown,   black   divided   centrally  by 


38 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


a  line  or  narrow  stripe  of  white;  a  broad  stripe  over 
eye,  br'ujht  yellow  anti-riorly  if  nun  lull  to  above  eyes), 
white  posteriorly;  a  broad  streak  of  black  behind  eye; 
ear  and  under  eye  regions,  plain  gray;  a  conspicuous 
li'liite  patch  covering  chin,  upper  throat,  and  greater 
part  of  cheek  region;  this  white  patch  abruptly  defined 
below  against  the  gray  of  lower  throat  and  chest, 
which  passes  into  a  more  brownish  hue  on  sides  and 
flanks,  the  latter  streaked  with  grayish-brown;  breast, 
abdomen,  and  under  tail-coverts,  white ;  back  and 
shoulders,  rusty-brown  streaked  with  black;  rump  and 
upper  tail-coverts,  light  olive  or  hair-brown ;  tail, 
deeper  hair-brown  edged  with  paler ;  middle  and 
greater  wing-coverts,  tipped  with  whitish  forming  two 
narrow  bands;  primaries,  primary  coverts,  and  outer- 
most   greater    coverts,    edged    with    lighter    and    more 


grayish-brown ;  the  edge  of  wing,  pale  yellow ;  iris, 
brown. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest  :  Typical  site  on  ground, 
in  burnt-over  clearings  of  coniferous  forests ;  some- 
times in  low  bushes  near  streams  or  borders  of  fresh- 
water swamps,  in  the  evergreen  woods ;  a  rather  bulky 
structure,  of  coarse  grasses,  strips  of  bark,  moss,  lined 
with  fine  blades  of  grass.  Eggs;  4  or  5,  minutely  and 
evenly  sprinkled  or  heavily  blotched  with  dark  brown 
on  a  pale  greenish  or  pale  buffy  ground. 

Distribution. —  Eastern  North  -America ;  breeding 
from  Massachusetts,  northern  New  York,  Ontario, 
northern  Michigan,  nortlieastern  Wyoming,  eastern 
Alontana,  etc.,  northward  to  Great  Bear  Lake,  west 
shores  of  Hudson  Bay,  Labrador,  etc.;  south  in  winter 
to  Florida  and  southern  Te.xas 


Tliis  is  not  only  one  of  the  handsomest  of  the 
Sparrows ;  it  is  perhaps  the  sweetest  singer  of 
them  all.  The  pity  of  it  is  that  comparatively 
little  is  seen  or  heard  of  him  by  humans  who 
would  be  glad  to  know  him  better ;  for  he  shows 
his  fetching  black,  white,  and  yellow-striped  cap, 
his  white  ascot  tie  and  his  warm  brown  jacket, 
and  sings  his  beautiful  little  song,  only  on  his 
way  to  and  from  his  breeding  groimd  in  the 
Canadian  forests.  This  at  least  is  true  of  the 
great  majority  of  White-throats,  though  many 
breed  in  northern  New  York,  Maine  and  in  the 
New  England  moimtains  as  far  south  as  northern 
Massachusetts.  Both  in  spring  and  in  fall  the 
birds  are  likely  to  travel  in  little  flocks  and  to 
spend  much  f)f  their  time  on  the  ground,  where 


they  scratch  vigorously  like  Towhees  and  Juncos. 
In  this  operation  a  White-throat  creates  a 
commotion  in  the  dry  leaves  which  suggests 
the  presence  of  a  bird  or  animal  many  times 
its  size. 

There  are  few  bird  utterances  at  once  more 
characteristic  and  more  appealing  than  the  fin- 
ished song  of  this  Sparrow.  Various  eflorts  have 
lieen  made  to  represent  the  song  in  words,  but  all 
of  these  attempts  are  more  or  less  unsatisfac- 
tory, for  the  very  good  and  sufficient  reason  that 
they  fail  utterly  to  express  the  spirit  of  the  utter- 
ance. "  Old  Sam  Peabody,  Peabody,  Peabody  " 
is  the  common  New  England  rendition,  from 
which  is  derived  the  popular  name  of  "  Peabody 
liird,"  but  as  W.  Leon  Dawson,  the  Ohio  orni- 


Drawing  by  R.  I.  Brasher 

WHITE-THROATED  SPARROW  {\  nat.  size) 


FINCHES 


39 


thologist,  says,  "  the  bird  does  not  utter  anythine; 
remotely  resembling  Peabodv  while  in  Ohio," 
nor  anywhere  else,  he  might  have  made  bold 
to  add. 

From  a  New  England  farmer,  Bradford 
Torrey  had  the  following  story  of  the  origin  of 
another  eti'ort  to  put  the  song  into  words : 

"A  farmer  named  Peverly  was  walking  about 
his  fields  one  spring  morning,  trying  to  make 
up  his  mind  whether  the  time  had  come  to  put 
in  his  wheat.  The  question  was  important,  and 
he  was  still  in  a  deep  (piandary,  when  a  bird 
spoke  up  out  of  the  wood  and  --aid,  '  Sow  wheat, 
Peverly,  Peverly,  Peverly !'  That  settled  the 
matter.  The  wheat  was  sown  and  in  the  fall  a 
most  abundant  harvest  was  gathered  ;  and  ever 
since  then  this  little  feathered  oracle  has  been 
known  as  the  Peverly  bird."  (  Birds  in  fhr  Push  ). 

The  fault  with  all  of  these  attem[)tcd  trans- 
literations, as  has  been  said,  is  that  thev  quite 
fail  to  convey  the  real  genius  of  the  song.  Its 
two  commoner  forms  are  reduced  to  musical 
notation  bv  Mr.  Mathews  as  follows: 


tt 


^ 


Old   <Sdm       Tesbody.  Peabody,  Pedbody. 
^J-     ores. 


W^ 


ishfe* 


mdemto.   '^'■^■^• 


*t: 


^1  ctrrTrirrr-a 


rue  bird  img]  ^°'^  '^hedt,   Peverly,' Peverly,  Peverly. 


twice  8vd. 


^^ 


mm 


rile  piano  conveys  only  a  verv  faint  sugges- 
tinn  of  the  truly  ethereal  quality  with  whicli  the 
singer  invests  this  simple  little  phrase.  Played 
with  a  \ery  skillfully  executed  tremolo  effect  well 
up  on  the  K  string  of  a  fine  violin,  the  notes 
cmney  a  somewhat  more  definite  idea  of  the 
Ming,  though  the  bird's  tone  is  not  that  of  the 
\iolin.  Kssentially  the  song  is  a  lament  —  a  la- 
ment which  is  wistful  and  ineffably  plaintive,  but 
in  which  there  is  no  despair,  only  sweet  hope- 
fulness. Stewart  Edward  White  in  his  book. 
riw  Forest,  has  a  singularlv  faithful  rqiprecia- 
tion  of  this  quality  in  the  song,  .\scending  from 
jest  to  eloquent  earnest,  he  writes: 

rile  \\"hite-throated  Sparrow  sings  nine  dif- 
terent  variations  of  the  same  song.  He  may  sing 
more,  but  that  is  all  I  have  counted.  .  .  .  One 
man  1  knew  he  nearly  dro\-e  crazv.  To  that  man 
he  was  always  saying.  'And  he  never  heard  the 

man  say  drink  and  the  .'     Toward  the  last 

my  frien<l  used  wildly  to  otTer  a  thousan<l  dol- 
lars if  he  wtiuld.  if  lie  only  would,  finish  that 
sentence. 

Rut  occasionally,  in  just  the  jiroper  circum- 
st.ances,  he  forgets  his  stump  corners,  his  vines, 
his  jolly  sunlight,  and  his  delightful  bugs  to  be- 
come an  intimate  voice  of  the  wilds.  It  is  night, 
very  still,  very  dark.  The  subdued  murmur  of 
the  forest  ebbs  and  flows  with  the  voices  of  the 
furtive  folk,  an  undertone  fearful  to  lireak  the 
)iight  calm.  Suddenly  across  the  dusk  of  silence 
flashes  a  single  thread  of  silver,  vibrating, 
trembling  with  some  unguessed  ecstasv  of  emo- 
tion. '.\h !  [loor  Canada,  Canada,  Canad.a  '  it 
mourns  passionately,  and  falls  silent.  That  is 
all."  George  Claddex. 

Pike  many  of  the  .members  of  its  family,  this 
S])arrow  is  a  great  destroyer  of  weed  seed  and 
has  an  especial  fondness  for  the  seeds  of  the 
r;igweed  and  birdweed.  It  consumes,  also,  a 
great  many  wild  berries  and  a  goodlv  number  of 
insects.  Its  food  habits  in  general  place  it 
among  the  useftfl  birds  of  the  farm. 


40 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


TREE  SPARROW 

Spizella  monticola  monticola  (  Cniiclin) 

A.   O.    U.    Xumher   559         See  Color   Plate  80 


Other  Names. —  Snow  Chippy;  Winter  Chip-bird; 
Winter  Chippy;  Tree  Bunting;  Canada  Sparrow; 
Arctic  Chipper;  Winter  Sparrow. 

General  Description. —  Length,  zVa  inches.  Upper 
parts,  gray,  rusty,  and  black,  streaked;  under  parts, 
gray.  Bill,  small;  wings,  rather  long  and  rather 
pointed ;  tail,  shorter  than  wing,  forked  or  double 
rounded,  the  feathers  narrow  and  blunt. 

Color. — .'Vdult  :  Crown,  streak  behind  eye.  and 
patch  on  sides  of  chest,  brownish  ;  hindneck,  sides  of 
head  and  neck  (except  as  described),  and  broad  stripe 
over  eye,  light  gray ;  chin  and  throat,  similar  but  paler ; 
breast,  abdomen,  and  under  tail-coverts,  dull  white, 
the  first  with  a  dusky  center  spot  or  blotch  at  upper 
edge,  next  to  the  pale  grayish  of  the  chest;  sides  and 
flanks,  pale  wood  brownish  or  brownish  huffy;  back 
and  shoulders,  pale  grayish  huffy  broadly  streaked  with 
black  and,  more  narrowly,  with  rusty ;  rump  and  upper 
tail-coverts,  plain  hair-brown ;  tail,  grayish  dusky,  the 
feathers   conspicuously   edged   with   pale  gray   or   buffy 


gray;  greater  wing-coverts,  broadly  edged  with  rufous, 
dusky  centrally ;  middle  and  greater  wing-covcrts, 
dusky,  tipped  zvith  white,  forming  tzvo  distinct  bands; 
iris,  brown.  Young  :  Crown,  dull  brown  streaked  with 
blackish ;  rump,  pale  bufify  grayish  indistinctly  streaked 
or  mottled  with  dusky ;  under  parts,  whitish  tinged 
with  buffy  on  chest;  the  sides  of  throat,  chest,  breast, 
and  front  portion  of  sides,  streaked  with  dusky;  other- 
wise  essentially   like   adults. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest:  Located  in  low  trees, 
bushes  or  on  ground ;  constructed  principally  of  dried 
grass,  strips  of  bark,  moss,  weed  stems,  and  warmly 
lined  with  feathers.  Eggs  :  3  to  5,  pale  greenish  blue, 
specked  minutely  and  regularly  over  entire  surface 
with   rufous   brown. 

Distribution. —  Eastern  North  America,  breeding  in 
Newfoundland,  Labrador,  and  region  about  Hudson 
Hay  (limits  of  breeding  range  very  imperfectly 
known )  ;  south  in  winter  to  South  Carolina,  Tennessee, 
Oklahoma,  etc. 


The  word  "  tree  "  is  misleading  as  applied  to 
the  Tree  Sparrow ;  for  the  bird  is  most  fre- 
quently found  on  the  ground,  and  does  not  even 
nest  in  trees  ordinarily.     This  is  r)nlv  one  of  very 


.  by  H.  K.  J.jb  ('Murlt.-y  -. 

TREE  SPARROW 
Feeding  on  window-sill 


many  instances  of  strange  inaccuracy  in  popular 
nomenclature.  The  vernacular  names  "Arctic 
Chipper "  and  "  Winter  Chip-bird "  are,  how- 
ever, justified  by  the  facts  that  the  bird  breeds  in 
the  northland,  and  passes  the  v\'inter  months  in 
the  temperate  zone.  Indeed,  the  Tree  Sparrow 
and  the  Slate-colored  Jtinco  are  the  only  native 
members  of  the  Sparrow  family  which  may 
fairlv  be  counted  winter  residents  within  the 
United  States.  This,  of  course,  excludes  the 
English  Sparrow,  "  which  does  not  deserve  to  be 
considered  as  a  bird,  but  rather  as  a  feathered 
rat,"  as  Mr.  Job  says.  The  Tree  Sparrow  has 
the  further  distinction  of  being  one  of  the  few 
.Vmerican  birds  who  sing  real  songs  in  real 
\\inter  weather,  for  its  pleasing  little  Canary- 
like ditty  of  tinkling  notes  is  often  heard  in 
February  when  there  is  both  snow  and  blow 
aplenty. 

The  Western  Tree  Sparrow  {SpiccIIa  jiwnti- 
fola  ochracca)  has  decidedly  longer  wings  and 
tail  than  tlie  eastern  species  and  its  coloration  is 
|)aler.  It  breeds  from  the  valley  of  the  Anderson 
River,  near  the  Arctic  coast,  westward  through 
-■\laska  and  southward  for  an  tmdetermined  dis- 
tance. In  the  winter  it  comes  south  through 
western  North  America  to  Arizona,  Utah,  Colo- 
rado, and  Texas. 

One-foiu-th  ounce  of  weed  seed  per  day  is  a 
conservative  estimate  of  the  food  of  an  adtiit 
Tree  Sparrow.    On  this  basis,  in  a  large  agricul- 


FINCHES 


4^ 


tural  state  like  Iowa,  Tree  Sparrows  annually 
eat  apjiroxiinately  875  tons  of  weed  seeds.  Only 
the  farmer,  uiion  whose  shoulders  falls  the  heavy 
hurdcn  of  freeing;  his  land  of  noxious  weeds, 
can  realize  what  this  vast  consumption  of  weed 
seeds  means  in  the  savini;  and  cost  of  lahor. 
Dr.  Judd  reports  an  interestini;  illustration  of 
the  Tree  Siiarrow's  habits  which  was  noticed 
durint;  a  heavv  snnwstorm  in  the  third  week  of 
Februarv.  Here  and  there,  where  the  whiteness 
of   the   field   was   pierced   by   i)halanxes   of   dry 


broom-sedge,  a  flock  of  a  d<:)zen  or  more  Tree 
Sparrows  found  good  cheer  in  spite  of  driving 
flakes.  From  one  brown  i)atch  to  another  they 
flew,  clinging  to  the  plants  while  they  [iluckcd 
out  the  seeds,  seldom  leaving  a  stalk  unexplored. 
Frequently  two  would  feed  from  a  single  stalk, 
while  a  third,  made  thrifty  by  the  wintry  dearth, 
hopfK'd  in  the  snow  below  searching  for  scattered 
seeds.  The  snow  whirlefl  in  clouds  across  the 
i'leld,  Init  these  little  creatures  worked  on  with 
cheerful,  hardy  industry. 


CHIPPING  SPARROW 
Spizella  passerina  passerina  (  Bcchslciii ) 

A.    O.    U.    Xuniber    5C0        See   Color    I'l.itc   8.) 


Other  Names. —  Chip-bird  ;  Chippy  ;  Hair-bird  ; 
Social  Sparrow  :  Hair  .Sparrow;  Little  House  Sparrow. 

General  Description. —  Length.  5'<  inches.  Upper 
parts,  gray,  rusty,  and  black,  streaked ;  under  parts, 
gray.  Bill,  small ;  wings,  rather  long  and  rather 
pointed  ;  tail,  shorter  than  wing,  deeply  forked,  the 
feathers  narrow  and  blunt. 

Color. — Adult  M.\le:  Crou'ii.  deep  ciiinamon-nifous 
to  rujous-chcstnut ;  the  forehead,  black  divided  by  a 
center  streak  of  whitish ;  a  broad  stripe  of  white  or 
very  pale  gray  over  eye  margined  below  by  a  conspicu- 
ous streak  of  black,  the  latter  extending  beyond  the 
ears;  ear  and  under  eye  regions,  sides  of  neck,  and 
hindneck,  gray,  the  last  streaked  with  blackish  ;  back 
and  shoulders,  light  brown  or  drab  broadly  streaked 
with  black,  the  black  streaks  edged  with  rusty-brown  ; 
rump  and  upper  tail  coverts,  deep  olive-gray  or  mouse- 
gray,  the  latter  somewhat  darker  centrally  ;  tail,  dusky, 
the  feathers  edged  with  light  gray ;  lesser  wing-coverts, 
mouse-gray  with  darker  centers ;  middle  coverts,  dusky 
broadly  margined  terminally  with  white  or  huffy  form- 
ing a  band;  greater  coverts,  dusky  edged  with  pale 
wood-brown  or  buffy-brown,  usually  passing  into  whitish 
or  pale  buffy  at  tips  of  feathers;  inner  wing-quills, 
dusky  broadly  edged  with  wood-brown  or  pale  buffy 
brown  ;  primaries,  dusky  narrowly  edged  with  pale  gray- 
ish ;  under  parts,  white  or  grayish-white;  the  chest, 
sides  and  flanks  shaded  with  pale  gray ;  iris,  browrr 
-Adult  Female  :  Similar  to  the  male  and  frequently  not 
distinguishable,  but  usually  (?)  with  the  rufous  crown 
slightly  less  extended  and  often  streaked  with  dusky. 
Winter  adults  have  the  colors  duller,  the  markings  less 
sharply  contrasted,  the  gray  less  pure,  the  chestnut 
crown  obscured  by  buffy  tips  to  the  feathers. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest  :  Built  in  bushes,  hedges,  or 
almost  any  kind  of  tree,  especially  cedars,  usually  close 
to  houses,  the  orchard  being  a  favorite  locality  ;  a  deli- 


cate. o[>en-work  structure  of  fine,  curly  rootlets,  cleverly 
interwoven  and  always  thickly  lined  with  horse-hair, 
sometimes  constructed  almost  entirely  of  this  material. 
Eggs  ;  3  or  4,  rarely  5,  bluish-green,  thinly  spotted 
with  blackish  brown,  often  wreathed  at  large  end. 

Distribution. —  Eastern    LTnited     States    and    British 
provinces,    west    to    the    Great    Plains;    breeding    from 


ving  by  R.  I.  Brasher 

CHIPPING  SPARROW  (I  nat.  sizel 


near  the  Gulf  coast  nortliward  to  Nova  Scotia,  New 
Brunswick,  Prince  Edward  Island.  Province  of  Quebec, 
and  wooded  region  on  eastern  side  of  the  Saskatchewan 
plains ;  wintering  chiefly  in  the  more  southern  United 
States  (Florida  to  Eastern  Texas  and  northward); 
casual  winter  visitant  to  Cuba   (and  eastern  Mexico?). 


This  Sparrow  is  one  of  the  best  known  and 
most  loved  of  our  door-vard  birds.  Its  confi- 
dence in  the  friencUiness  of  man  seems  to  be  no 


less  than  that  of  the  Robin  and  Pduebird,  whence 
one  of  its  names,  the  .Social  Sparrow.  .Another 
popular  name,  "  Hair-bird,"  refers  to  the  bird's 


42 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


fondness  for  horse-hairs  as  material  for  its  nest. 
As  a  matter  of  fact,  this  is  not  good  nesting- 
material,  for.  the  hairs  selected  are  from  the 
mane  and  tail  of  the  horse,  and  besides  beinsf 
stiff,  and  therefore  hard  to  weave  into  the  only 


Photo  by  H.  T.  Middictnu 

CHIPPING  SPARROW 
One  of  the  tamest  of  our  door-yard  birds 

kind  of  nest  the  bird  knows  how  to  build,  are 
often  so  long  that  two  or  three  ends  are  likely 
to  be  left  protruding  for  several  inches.  These 
ends  are  dangerous  snares,  in  which  both  old 
and  young  birds  become  entangled,  often  with 
tragic  results.  The  persistence  of  the  bird  in 
using  this  dangerous  building  material  is  but 
another  illustration  of  the  blind  way  in  which 
instinct  sometimes  works. 

The  song  of  this  Sparrow  is  a  rapid  and  rather 
monotonous  reiteration  of  the  same  note.  It  is 
frequently  described  as  a  "  trill,"  but  this  is  in- 
accurate, as  a  trill  is  a  rapid  repetition  of  two 
distinct  tones,  whereas  there  is  but  one  tone  in 
Chippy's  song.  Mr.  Burroughs  records,  as  a 
marked  exception,  a  song  of  one  of  these  Spar- 
rows in  which  the  tones  were  in  two  groups,  one 
at  a  little  lower  pitch  than  the  other.  The  tone 
is  very  high, —  an  octave  or  so  above  the  highest 
C  of  a  piano.  The  bird  is  often  in  a  conspicuous 
place  —  the  top  of  a  tree  or  bush  —  as  he  pre- 
sents this  simple  little  offering:  or  he  mav  even 
execute  part  of  it  while  on  the  wing,  though  this 
seems  to  be  very  unusual. 

Inexperienced  or  careless  observers  frequently 
confuse  this  Sparrow  with  the  Field  Sparrow  : 
but  this  is  needless  if  one  will  remember  that  the 
Chipping  Sparrow  has  a  black  bill,  and  a  grayish 
line  over  the  eye  and  a  brown  stripe  through  it, 
distinguishing  marks  which  the  Field  Sparrow 
lacks. 


The  Chipping  Sparrow  is  one  of  the  most 
insectivorous  of  all  the  Sparrows.  Its  diet  con- 
sists of  about  42  per  cent,  of  insects  and  spiders 
and  58  per  cent,  of  vegetable  matter.  The 
animal  food  consists  largely  of  caterpillars,  of 
which  it  feeds  a  great  many  to  its  yovmg.  Be- 
sides these,  it  eats  beetles,  including  many  wee- 
vils. It  also  eats  ants,  wasps,  and  bugs.  Among 
the  latter  are  plant  lice  and  black-olive  scales. 
The  vegetable  food  is  practically  all  weed  seed. 
A  nest  with  four  young  of  this  species  was 
watched  at  different  hours  on  four  days.  In  the 
seven  hours  of  observation  119  feedings  were 
noted,  or  an  average  of  seventeen  feedings  per 
liiiur.  or  four  and  one-quarter  feedings  per  hour 
to  each  nestling.  This  would  give  for  a  day  of 
fourteen  hours  at  least  238  insects  eaten  by  the 
brood.  Chipping  Sparrows  have  been  noted  at 
the  end  of  May  far  out  in  a  patch  of  corn 
stubble  feeding  on  yellow  sorrel  that  was  going 
to  seed.  A  score  of  Chipping  .Sparrows  have 
been  seen  amid  crab  grass,  which  was  spreading 
so  rapidly  through  a  market  garden  in  a  pear 
orchard  that  it  was  likely  to  impair  the  product. 
They  hopped  up  to  the  fruiting  stalks,  which 
were  then  in  the  milk,  and  beginning  at  the  tip 
of  one  of  tlie  several  spil<es  that  radiated  from 


H.  K.  Job  Omrtcsy  (.1  Outing  Pub.  Co. 

CHIPPING  SPARROW  AT  HOME 
On  Mr.  Job's  porch,  in  the  woodbine 

a  common  center  like  the  spokes  of  a  wheel  and, 
gradually  moving  their  beaks  along  to  the  base, 
the}'  chewed  oft"  the  seeds  of  spike  after  spike  in 
regular  succession.  Usually  thev  did  not  remove 
their  beaks  until  they  reached  the  base,  thotigh 


Courtesy  of   tht-  Nuw  York  Slato  Mi.seuri 


Plate 


FIELD  SPARROW    Spuilla  pustlla  pu.iill,r  (Wilaon) 
CHIPPING  SPARROW    Spi.'fll,,  ;w,«f;-,LT;«,"."Ti,m  (Rechstoin) 


FOX.  SPARROW    PnssmUn  iliaca  iliiica  (Morrom) 


FINCIIF.S 


43 


some    individiiaK.    cspccialK'    birds   nf    ilic    year.  fnun  ilic  caslcni  l)asc  of  (lie   l\i)cky  Mountains 

wimld   inmnh    a    lew    sreds   in    tlir   iiiiddK-   nf   a  In  ilir  praiiir  disiricl-^  nf   ilir  n|)|)cr  Mississippi 

s])ikc'  and  tlu-n  lake  a   fiasli  nnr.  vaHcv        lis  nisi    is  iiMially   lu-ar  the  [,'rnund   like 

Dfcidcdiv  hir<(('r  hiil   paler  in  mlnralinn  is  llir  llii'   l''ic!d  Sparrnw's. 

Western   Cliippini;   Sparrnw    { Sjv'.crlLi   l^,is.u-ri)i,i  Anollier     elnsily     allied     speeies     is     I'.rewer's 

uricoiUi- ) .      It    is    fnimd    L;enerall\-    nxci"    western  Sparrnw     i  S l'i:::rl/ii    /iriTei'r/ ) .    locally    knnwn    in 

North    Anierica    frniii    tlie    Rcn'kv    Mnunlains   tn  ils  i-anL;e  in  llie  I 'liited  Stales  west  nf  the   Kncky 

the   I'aeilii-  cnasl.  ineludiiiL;  Alaska  and  the  innre  M(juntains   and    south   into   Mexien   as   the   Sat,'c 

westt-rn  ]iarts  nf  the  inti-rinr  tlistr-iets  nf    I'.ritish  (hippy.       It    averages    a    (rille    smaller    than    the 

America.  t 'la\'  colnied  .Sparrnw,  in  which  it   is  similar,  hut 

The   riay-colnrecl    Sparrnw    (Spi.::clhi   palliila]  it     is    mnre    narrowly    and     niiifnrmlv    streaked 

verv  much  rescmhles  an  immalure  (  ■hipp\       It  is  ahn\e,   especially   nil   the   crown    which    lacks  the 

found    on    the    yreat    i)lains    of    North     America  central  stri])e. 


FIELD   SPARROW 
Spizella  pusilla  pusilla  {Wilson) 

\     (1      I  •      \nriil..  I       ii;         s,  ,     (  nini     I'l.rl,'    K) 


Other    Names.—  lUisli      Sp.irmw  :      l\ii-li      Sp.imiw;  linnvn     or     hair-lu  mwh  :     t.iil     clrcp     hair-linnvii.     llu- 

HucklcluTr.x-iin.l  ;      \V<"iil      Sparrcm  :      l-u-M      Cliippy;  leallirrs   edKed    with    p.ilc'   Krayisli  ;    iaiKci'    wiiiK-covcils 

Ground-binl ;  (irimiui   .Sparrow;   I*"icld    I'.tiiitiiiK.  and    inner    winK-(|uills.    dusky    centrally;    middle    and 

General    Description. —  LenKth.   sH    i'ulu-s       L'ppcr  greater  coverts,  tipped  with  whitish,  forniin.^  two  hands 


parts,  uray.  rnsly,  and  black,  streaked ;  under  parts, 
gray.  Hill,  small ;  win.ijs.  rather  Iouk  and  rallier 
jjointcd  ;  tail,  nearly  lennlh  of  wing,  forked  or  donlile 
iimnded.   tlie   feathers  narrow  and  Idnnt. 

Color. —  Antii.Ts :  Crown,  rusty  brown;  sldeN  of 
head,  li.nht  gray  (smoke-Hrav  or  olive-Rrav  )  rehe\ed  bv 
a  rusty  brown  streak  luliind  i-ye  ;  jiack  and  shoulders, 
rusty  brown  narroul\  ^Irc.aked  wilh  Mack,  often 
streaked  also  (on  eil;4rs  of  Iralliers)  wilh  Imhl  dull 
liul'fy  or  clay  color;   rump  ami   upper   tail-cov(■rl^,   li^bl 


the  tjreatcr  coverts  edged  with  pale  brown  ;  outer  web 
of  inner  winK-(|uills,  broadly  edged  with  pale  rusty 
brown  or  cinnamon  ;  under  parts,  i)alc  grayish  bulTy 
low.iril  the  front  and  sides,  the  bufTy  tinge  most  |)ro- 
noimced  on  clicst,  fading  into  dull  white  on  each  side 
of  chest.  Voi:n<.  :  Much  duller  in  color  than  adults, 
with  the  chest  anil  sides  streaked  wilh  dusky;  ii-.>wn, 
dull  liri>wn  (not  rusty  >,  usually  (  '' )  n.irrovvly  .incl  in- 
dislnullv  streaked  with  dusky;  otherwise  essentially 
hke  adults. 


Drawiiif!  by  R.  I.  Hrashcr 

FIELD  SPARROW  (J  nat.  size) 
A  tinkling  musician  of  the  open  fields 


44 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest  :  Usually  placed  in  low  thick 
bushes,  or  in  tufts  of  grass  on  the  ground,  in  clearings, 
or  bushy  fields,  near  woodland  ;  constructed  of  coarse 
grass,  weed  strips,  and  rootlets,  lined  with  finer  grasses 
and  hair.  Eggs  :  3  to  5,  grayish  or  bluish  white 
spotted  with  various  shades  of  brown,  more  heavily 
around  large  end. 


Distribution. —  Eastern  North  America,  west  to  the 
edge  01  tlic  Great  Plains;  breeding  from  upper 
Georgia  and  South  Carolina,  northwestern  Florida, 
central  .-Mabama,  and  Mississippi,  and  central  Te.xas. 
northward  to  Maine.  Ontario,  Manitoba  ;  wintering  in 
more  southern  United  States,  from  Florida  to  Texas, 
northward   to  about  39°,   occasionally   farther. 


The  Field  Sparrow,  Chipping  Sparrow,  and 
Tree  Sparrow  resemble  one  another  nearly 
enough  to  perple.x  the  ine.xperienced  or  hasty 
observer.  Sharp  eyes,  intelligently  used,  how- 
ever, will  reveal  certain  characteristic  marks. 
Look  for  the  reddish  bill  and  the  plain  breast  of 
the  Field  Sparrow ;  the  -a'liitc  stripe  over  each 
eye,  the  almost  pure  ichite  breast  and  the  (/ray 
rump  of  the  Chippy,  and  the  dark  spot  in  the 
middle  of  the  breast  of  the  Tree  Sparrow. 

The  popular  specific  term  "  field,"  is  a  little 
misleading  as  applied  to  this  bird,  for  its  favorite 
habitat  is  an  old  pasture-lot  overgrown  with 
weeds   and  high   bushes,   or   undergrowth   along 


Photo  by  S.  .-v.  Lottndge 

NEST  AND  EGGS  OF  FIELD  SPARROW 

the  edges  of  woodland,  rather  than  cultivated 
fields,  in  which  it  is  rarely  seen.  Nor  does  it 
ajipear,  except  by  accident,  in  dooryards  of 
human  habitations. 

This  Sparrow's  habits  of  running  along  the 
ground  and  skulking  through  the  brush  are 
characteristics  which  aid  in  its  indentification, 
and  which  at  the  same  time  reveal  its  retiring 
and  timid  disposition.  Its  song  is  a  simple  but 
musical  little  ditty  of  which  Thoreau  says :  "  The 
Rush  Sparrow  [a  local  name  for  the  bird  in  his 
time,  and  one  still  sometimes  used]  jingles  her 
small  change,  pure  silver,  on  the  counter  of 
the  pastures,"  a  fetching  description,  though 
it  implies  a  cttrious  ignorance  of  the  fact  that  it 
is   the   male   bird   that   does   the   singing.     The 


song  is  not  unlike  that  of  the  Chipping  Sparrow, 
in  that  its  notes  are  all  of  the  same  pitch,  but  it 
is  distinctive  in  that  their  delivery  is  at  an  ac- 
celerated rate  which  efifectually  relieves  the  eflfect 
of    monotony.      The    tone    is    pure    and    sweet, 
rather  more  so  than  that  of  the  "  Chippy."   Brad- 
ford  Torrey   recorded   that   he   once  heard   the 
song  rendered  "  in  reverse  order,"  with  an  effect 
which   jnizzled   him   ttntil   he   had   identified   the 
singer.      This    observation    conveys    a    valuable 
hint  as  to  the  variability  in  the  songs  of  birds. 
It  should  always  be  borne  in  mind  that  this  varia- 
bility may  be  marked  even  in  birds  of  the  same 
species  and  the  same  locality :  indeed  it  is  likely 
that  two  birds  from  the  same  brood  may  render 
Iierce]5tibly  different  versions  of  the  same  song. 
The  laboratory  investigation  of  175  specimens 
of   the   Field   Sparrow   collected   during   all  the 
months  of  the  year  from  fifteen  States  and  the 
District  of  Columbia  showed  41  per  cent,  animal 
material  and  59  per  cent,  vegetable.     The  animal 
matter  consisted  of  weevils,  leaf  beetles,  ground 
beetles,  tiger  beetles,  click  beetles.  May  beetles, 
caterpillars,  grasshoppers,  leaf-hoppers,  true  bugs, 
saw  flies,  ants,  flies,  spiders,  and  parasitic  wasps. 
The  last  item  is  the  principal  point  wherein  the 
Field  Sparrow  differs  in  its  food  habits  from  the 
Chipping  Sparrow  —  a  dift'erence  that  is  not  to 
the  credit  of  this  species  from  the  standpoint  of 
usefulness,  since  these  wasps  have  been  proved 
to  be  dangerous  parasites  of  many  caterpillars. 
Of  the  vegetable  food  51  per  cent,  was  seeds  of 
grasses   of    such   species   as   crab-grass,   pigeon- 
grass,  broom-sedge,  poverty-grass,  and  sheathed 
rush-grass ;  4  per  cent,  was  seeds  of  such  weeds 
as  chickweed,  lamb's-quarters.  gromwell,  spurge, 
wood  sorrel,  and  knot-weed ;  and  4  per  cent,  was 
oats.     Dr.  Judd  tells  in  his  Birds  of  a  Maryland 
farm  of  watching  a  flock  of  Field  Sparrows  in 
the  middle  of  November.     They  spent  most  of 
their  time  swaying  on  broom-sedge  stalks,  from 
which  they  were  busily  extracting  seeds.     Some- 
times a  bird  alighting  on  a  plant  would  bend  it 
to   the   ground   and   hold   it   down   with   its   feet 
while  picking  out  the  seeds :  seldom  would  one 
feed  from  the  ground  in  any  other  way. 

The  Western  Field  Sparrow   (Spicella  piisilla 


FINCHES 


45 


arciiacca)  has  imich  longer  wings  and  tail,  es- 
pecially the  latter,  than  his  eastern  relative,  and 
his  general  color  is  grayer.  He  is  found  in  the 
more  western  portions  of  the  (ireat  Plains;  he 
hreeds  from  Xehraska  and  South  Dakota  to 
eastern  Montana  and  winters  south  to  southern 
Texas  and  Louisiana. 


\\  urthcn's  .S]jarrow  or  the  Mexican  Field 
Sparrow  (Sptj:clla  worthcni)  is  a  straggler  from 
over  the  Mexican  border  into  New  Mexico.  He 
is  much  like  the  Western  Field  Sparrow  but  liis 
tail  is  much  shorter,  the  wing-bands  less  distinct, 
and  the  sides  of  the  head  gray,  relie\-ed  only  bv  a 
w'liile  eve-ring. 


BLACK-CHINNED  SPARROW 

Spizella  atrogularis   (  Cabanis) 


General  Description. —  Length,  5',:J  inches.  Upper 
parts,  rusty-brown  streaked  with  black;  under  parts, 
black,  gray,  and  white.  Bill,  small ;  wings,  rather  long 
and  rather  pointed ;  tail,  decidedly  longer  than  wing, 
double  rounded,  the   feathers  narrow  and  blunt. 

Color. —  Adult  M.\le:  front  farticui  of  check 
region,  chin,  and  ('art  of  throat,  black;  rest  of  head 
and  neck,  gray,  darker  on  crown,  where  sometimes 
narrowly  and  indistinctly  streaked  with  dusky,  fading 
into  lighter  gray  or  olive-gray  on  chest  and  other  under 
parts ;  the  abdomen,  white ;  back,  liyht  rusty-brown 
or  cinnamon  streaked  with  black ;  shoulders,  similar 
but  with  outer  webs  more  decidedly  rusty ;  rump  and 
upper  tail-coverts,  plain  gray  or  olive-gray ;  tail,  dusky  ; 
"ving-coverts,  dusky  centrally,  broadly  margined,  and 
tipped  with  pale  cinnainon-buffy ;  greater  coverts,  dusky 
centrally  broadly  edged  with  pale  buffy-brown  or  wood- 


brown  ;  primaries,  dusky  edyed  witli  pale  grayish. 
.\dult  Fem.\i,e:  Similar  to  tlie  adult  male  and  not 
always  distinguishable,  but  usually  with  the  black  of 
chin,  etc.,  duller  and  much  less  e.xtended,  often  entirely 
wanting,  the  entire  head  being  gray,  and  the  gray  of 
crown  and  hindneck  rather  browner. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest:  In  low  bushes,  in  deserts 
of  Lower  California.  Arizona,  and  New  Mexico;  con- 
structed of  grass,  weed  fibers,  lined  with  fine  grasses 
and  cow-hair.  Eggs:  3  to  5,  plain  light  greenish  blue, 
normally  unmarked. 

Distribution. —  More  southern  portions  of  south- 
western United  States  and  southward  over  Me.xican 
plateau,  north  to  southern  California,  Arizona,  and 
southwestern  New  Mexico ;  Lower  California,  breed- 
ing in  more  northern  portions,  south  m  winter  to  the 
cape    district. 


A  visitor  from  the  eastern  United  States  to  the 
sagebrush  regions  of  the  southwest  hears  the 
song  of  a  bird  which  makes  him  exclaim  :  "  Why, 
all  those  bird-books  are  wrong !  That's  a  I'ield 
Sparrow  from  home.  I  know  his  song."  Then 
he  catches  sight  of  a  little  bird  the  size  of  a 
Chipping  Sparrow,  except  for  its  longer  tail. 
Hut   instead   of   the   rusty   brown   crown   of   the 


Field  Sparrow  which  he  had  expected  to  see,  this 
bird  is  a  stranger  with  a  gray  head  and  a  black- 
patch  on  its  throat.  To  his  delight,  the  bird- 
lover  has  added  .1  new  acquaintance  to  his  list 
—  the  Black-chinned  Sparrow.  r)n  in(|llir^•  he 
finds  that  his  new  friend  is  fairly  numerous 
within  its  limited  range. 

J.    liLLIS   BURDJCK. 


SLATE-COLORED  JUNCO 
Junco  hyemalis  hyemalis  (LiiiiKciis) 

A.    O.    V.    Xuml.er    ;(i7        >ii-    (  i,l„r    I'l.atc   Sj 


Other  Names.—  Snowbird  ;  Black  Snowbird  ;  White 
Bill ;  Black  Chipping  Bird  ;  Common  Snowbird  ;  Slate- 
colored  .Snowbird  :   Blue  Snowbird  :  Eastern  Junco. 

General  Description. —  Length,  6  inches.  Fore  and 
upper    parts,    gray;    under    parts,    white.      Bill,    small; 


wings,  long  and  moderately  rounded :  tail,  a  little 
shorter  than  wing,  doulile-rounded.  the  feathers  narrow 
at  the  tips  and  blunt. 

Color. —  Adi'i.t    M.m.e:      Head.    neck,    chest,    upper 
breast,  sides,  flanks,  and  upper  parts,  plain  slate-color. 


46 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


darker  on  head ;  lower  breast,  abdomen,  anal  region, 
and  under  tail-coverts,  white;  six  middle  tail-leathers, 
slate-blackish,  edged  with  slate  grayish  ;  hco  outermost 
tail-feathers  zi'hite;  bill,  pinkish;  iris,  dark  reddish 
brown  or  claret-purple.  Adult  Female  ;  Similar  to 
adult  male,  but  the  slate-color  rather  lighter  ( some- 
times decidely  so).  Young  (First  Plumage)  :  Above, 
grayish  brown  or  drab  (sometimes  slightly  rufescent  on 
back),  rather  broadly  streaked  with  blackish;  chin, 
throat,  chest,  sides,  and  flanks,  pale  dull  buffy  or  buffy 
grayish,  spotted  or  broadly  streaked  (except  on  chin) 
with  dusky ;  rest  of  under  parts  white,  the  breast 
usually  spotted  or  flecked  with  dusky. 

Nest    and    Eggs. —  Nest  :      Usually    placed    on    the 
ground,  under  a  tuft  of  grass  or  weeds,  sometimes  in 


rock  crevices,  or  upturned  tree  roots ;  constructed 
mostly  of  dried  grasses,  thickly  lined  with  hair.  fur.  and 
feathers.  Eggs  :  4  or  5,  white  or  greenish-white, 
spotted  with  rufous-brown. 

Distribution. —  Breeding  from  mountains  of  Penn- 
sylvania, New  York,  and  Massachusetts,  Ontario,  cen- 
tral Michigan,  northern  Minnesota,  northward  to 
Labrador,  western  shores  of  Hudson  Bay,  and  through 
the  interior  to  the  Arctic  coast  and  westward  to  valleys 
of  the  Yukon  and  Kowak  rivers,  Alaska;  migrating 
southward  in  winter  to  Florida,  Alabama,  Mississippi, 
Texas,  Arizona,  and  California,  straggling  (?)  to 
Point  Barrow  and  coast  of  Bering  Sea  (Kotzebue 
Sound,  St.  Michaels,  etc.),  and  to  eastern  Siberia 
(Tschuctschi   Peninsula). 


The  scientists  have  taken  liold  of  our  old 
friend  the  Common  Snowbird  and  done  so  many 
things  to  him  that  ordinary  bird  observers  and 
the  scientists  themselves  are  quite  distracted. 
First  they  are  disputing  over  the  various  races 
of  Snowbirds,  not  sure  just  how  many  different 
species  and  varieties  to  list.  They  liave  agreed 
npon  the  scientific  name  "  Junco  "  for  the  w  hole 


Drawing  by  R.  I.  Brasher 

SLATE-COLORED   JUNCO  >\  nat.  size) 
A  sprightly  and  welcome  winter  visitor 

group  or  genus  and  imposed  that  I.atin  name 
upon  the  Englisli-speaking  world  as  the  com- 
mon name  in  place  of  Snowbird.  Maybe  the 
children  of  the  newer  generation  will  look  out 
of  the  windows  on  a  Christmas  morning  and  say 
"  Oh,  see  the  Junco s !  "  but  the  charm  of  the 
word  "  Snowbird "  seems  to  be  more  worth 
while  in  childhood  and  in  poetry  at  least.     Bird 


students  are  taking  very  kindly  to  the  new  name 
but  no  one  seems  to  know  how  it  started  and 
what  it  means.  Coues  says  that  it  is  derived 
from  the  Latin  jiiiiciis  meaning  a  seed.  It  was 
after  1830  that  the  word  "Junco"  was  first 
brought  into  scientific  use. 

This  is  a  true  winter  bird  indeed.  He  remains 
about  his  breeding  range  late  into  the  fall  and 
often  goes  only  a  little  way  to  warmer  climates 
when  the  food  supply  falls  short  farther  north. 
The  white-edged  tail  and  hood-like  coloring  of 
the  head  makes  the  bird  quite  distinctive,  and  as 
we  see  him  in  the  winter  his  coloring  makes  him 
very  attractive  against  the  snow  or  the  ever- 
greens. He  is  a  tamer,  more  genial  bird  to  us 
than  is  that  other  Snowbird,  the  White  Snow- 
bird or  Snowflake  that  stays  far  afield  in  all 
kinds  of  weather.  This  Black  Snowbird  comes 
near  the  barns  and  kitchen  doors,  dodges  in  and 
out  of  the  bushes  in  the  garden,  chatters  cheerily 
in  the  wild  cherry  and  thorn  bushes,  lisps  his 
characteristic  tsip  from  stone  piles  and  stub- 
ble rows,  and  as  spring  comes,  sings  from 
the  bushes  and  shorter  trees  his  low,  sweet  song 
which  Mrs.  Bailey  says  is  "  as  unpretentious  and 
cheery  as  the  friendly  bird  itself."  And  in  early 
spring  off  he  goes  for  the  breeding  grounds, 
often  reaching  there  weeks  before  the  nesting 
can  begin. 

The  Junco  is  one  of  the  most  common  Spar- 
rows of  .'America.  In  migration  he  vies  in  ntim- 
bers  with  the  other  song  birds,  often  being  seen 
by  the  hundreds  wherever  there  is  shelter  and 
food.  In  the  breeding  territory  he  chooses  the 
cool  and  sheltered,  and  often  damper  localities. 
He  breeds  commonly  in  the  Adirondacks.  But 
farther  south,  any  motmtainous  region  or  valley 
that  is  almost  cold  throughout  the  summer  may 


FINCHES 


47 


shelter  its  Jimco  households.  Not  only  in  east- 
ern but  in  western  and  northern  Xorth  Anieriea 
up  to  the  limit  of  trees,  and  south  down  through 
Mexico  to  Central  America  the  Junco  is  common. 

It  is  over  the  Rocky  Mountain  and  Pacific 
coast  Juncos  that  the  scientists  have  become  very 
much  disturbed,  and  well  they  might,  for  nearly 
twenty  varieties  of  Juncos  have  been  credited 
to  that  country.  East  of  the  Rockies  there  is 
one  great  varietv,  the  Slate-colored  or  h'astern 
Junco  that  occupies  an  area  greater  than  any 
dozen  varieties  of  the  West.  Far  up  to  the  north- 
west our  Eastern  Snowbird  goes,  sometimes 
pushing  on  to  the  limit  of  trees  on  the  lower 
Coppermine  and  Mackenzie  rivers.  Many  cross 
the  Rockies  up  in  that  far  northwest  to  the  head- 
waters of  the  Yukon,  and  spread  out  in  large 
numbers  down  the  Yukon  and  uj)  its  tributaries 
occupying  most  of  central,  northern,  and  west- 
ern Alaska.  Some  even  fly  through  the  Aleutian 
Islands  to  the  mainland  of  Siberia  to  nest  on  the 
inhospitable  rocks  of  a  strange  corner  of  the 
Old  World.  The  other  varieties  of  Juncos  do 
not  extend  farther  north  than  southern  Alaska 
and  northern   British   Columbia. 

A  variety  of  the  Eastern  Junco  is  the  Carolina 
Junco  {Junco  hvciiialis  caroliiiriisis  ) .  which  ex- 
hibits a  remarkably  short  migration  route.  It 
inhabits  the  southern  Alleghenies  and  is  slightly 
larger  than  the  Eastern  and  not  so  brownish.  Dr. 
\\'.  W.  Cooke  said  that  in  the  fall  migration 
"  no  Juncos  were  seen  at  \\'eaverville,  N,  C. 
before  October  i8th,  though  they  nested  ui)on 
the  neighboring  mountains,  within  five  minutes' 
flight." 

The  other  varieties  are  all  ^\'estern  and  they 
show  all  sorts  of  interesting  variations  of  color, 
but  the  habits  of  nesting,  feeding,  and  singing 
are  all  very  much  alike.  The  ^^'hite-winged 
Junco  {Junco  aikciii),  larger  than  the  Eastern, 
has  two  white  wing  bars  and  more  white  in  the 
tail.  The  White-wing  breeds  in  the  Black  Hills 
and  surrounding  country,  and  migrates  less  than 
500  miles  to  southeastern  Colorado  for  the 
winter.  Within  its  area  it  is  found  in  immense 
numbers. 

Maybe  the  handsomest  is  the  Oregon  Junco 
(Junco  hycmalis  orcganus)  with  a  black  head 
and  breast,  sharply  defined  against  a  mahoganv- 
brown  back,  white  under  parts,  and  pinkish- 
brown  sides.  This  is  a  bird  of  the  Xorth  Pa- 
\'oi..  III.  — ; 


cific  coast.  Shufeldt's  Junco  {Junco  liycnialis 
coiiucctcns )  is  like  the  (Jregon  Init  with  colors 
less  intense,  it  is  found  in  the  mountains  from 
.Mbcrta  to  eastern  Oregon.  Thurlier's  Jimco 
{Junco  liycnialis  tluirbcri)  has  a  paler  back  and 
is  a  California  mountain  bird.  The  Point  Pinos 
Junco  {Junco  liycnialis  pinosiis)  is  like  Thurber's 
but  has  the  throat  and  breast  gray,  and  hatmts 
the  coast  of  a  part  of  southern  California.  The 
Montana  Junco  (y^uk';;  liycnialis  inontaiius)  is  one 
of  the  slaty-hooded  and  brown-backed  Juncos. 
It  belongs  in  the  higher  Rockies  of  Idalio,  Mon- 
tana, and  north  to  .-Mbcrta.  The  Pink-sided 
Jinico  {Junco  liycnialis  incarnsi)  has  broadly 
pinkish  sides  and  ranges  iu  the  mountains  from 
northern  Montana  to  Idaho  and  \\'yoming. 
Ridgway's  Junco  {Junco  liycnialis  aniiccfcns) 
is  discarded  by  Ridgway  himself  as  onl\-  a 
hybrid.  It  is  foimd  from  Wvoming  to  Xew 
Mexico.  The  Arizona  Junco  (Junco  plnvonotus 
pallialiis)  has  no  pink  sides  but  has  a  dark  brown 
back.  It  ranges  from  southern  Arizona  into 
Mexico,  and  is  said  to  have  less  of  the  manners 
of  a  Junco  than  of  a  Water  Thrush.  The  Red- 
backed  Junco  {Junco  plucoiiotiis  ilorsalis)  has  a 
bright  rtifous  back  and  a  pink  liill.  It  belongs  in 
the  higher  mountains  of  Arizona  and  New 
Mexico.  The  (iray-headed  Junco  {Junco  pluvo- 
notiis  caniccps)  is  of  darker  grav  with  I)elly 
whiter  than  the  jireceding.  It  finds  its  home  in 
the  higher  mountains  of  Colorado,  Utah,  and 
Nevada.  .South  of  the  United  .States  are  found 
Townsend's,  Baird's.  Guadalu])e,  Mexican,  Chia- 
pas, (7uatemala,  and  Irazu  luncos.  The  first 
three  of  these  are  of  occasional  occurrence  in  the 
southwestern  United  States.  .\11  of  which  means 
that  east  of  the  Rockies  we  may  still  love 
the  cheery  Black  Snowbird  that  is  frequentlv 
willing  to  pick  at  a  dinner  laid  out  near  our 
doors  and  windows,  but  that  elsewhere  we  niav 
see  all  kinds  of  colors  and  sizes  and  variant 
types,  and  maybe  new  kinds  of  Junco  characters 
and  dispositions.  L.  Nelson  Nichols. 

The  insect  food  of  the  Juncos  is  composed 
almost  entirely  of  harmful  sjiecies,  of  which 
caterpillars  form  the  the  largest  item.  Juncos  do 
no  damage  to  fruit  or  grain.  Thev  eat  large 
quantities  of  weed  seed  (61.S  per  cent.),  therebv 
rendering  service  to  agriculture.  Thev  should 
be  rigidly  protected. 


48 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


BLACK-THROATED  SPARROW 
Amphispiza  bilineata  bilineata   (Cassin) 

A.   O.    U.    Number   573 


Other  Name. —  Black-throat. 

General  Description. —  Length,  sJj  inches.  Upper 
parts,  gray ;  under  parts,  white.  Bill,  small ;  wing,  long 
and  slightly  rounded;  tail,  trifle  shorter  than  wing, 
rounded  or  double  rounded,  the  feathers  broad  and 
rounded  at  the  ends. 

Color. —  Adults  :  Conspicuous  stripe  over  eye  and 
on  cheeks,  pure  zchite;  the  front  portion  of  the  cheek 
region,  together  with  the  chin,  throat,  and  center  por- 
tion of  chest,  uniform  black,  the  last  with  a  convex 
(sometimes  angular)  posterior  outline;  rest  of  under 
parts,  white  shading  into  grayish  on  sides  and  flanks  ; 
the  latter,  together  with  anal  region  and  under  tail- 
coverts,  tinged  with  buffy  in  winter  plumage;  upper 
parts,  deep,  slightly  brownish,  gray,  becoming  more 
brownish     (nearly    hair-brown)     on    back    and    wings; 


sides  of  head  (between  the  two  white  stripes),  plain 
gray  like  crown  ;  the  tail,  blackish  z^.'ilh  white  on  edge 
and  tip  of  outermost  feathers;  iris,  deep  brown. 
Young  :  Similar  to  adults  but  without  any  distinct 
black  markings  on  head.  etc. ;  the  chin  and  throat,  white 
sometimes  flecked  with  grayish  ;  the  chest  streaked  with 
the  same. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest  :  Placed  in  sagebrush, 
cactus,  or  other  desert  shrubs,  near  ground  ;  constructed 
of  fine  shreds  of  bark,  dried  grasses,  lined  with  fine 
blades  of  the  latter.  Eggs  :  3  or  4,  plain  greenish  or 
bluish  white. 

Distribution. —  Middle  and  eastern  Te.xas  (except 
along  Gulf  coast?),  north  to  Oklahoma,  western  Kan- 
sas, and  eastern  Colorado  (  "O,  south  into  States  of 
northeastern  Mexico. 


The  Black-throated  Sparrow  is  a  very  plentiful 
and  beatttiful  songster  of  the  one  area  of  the 
United  States  that  certainly  does  need  song.  If 
there  is  any  area  in  the  world  that  is  more  dreary 


Drawing  by  R.  I.  Brasher 

BLACK-THROATED  SPARROW  ^  aat.  size) 


than  another  it  is  a  desert.  A  song  is  needed  and 
many  of  them  to  cheer  the  weary  humans  that 
travel  the  long  hot  routes  across  the  southwest- 
ern country.  Mrs.  Bailey  gives  the  bird  the 
credit  due  to  him  when  she  says :  "  On  all 
our  walks  through  the  thorn  brush  and  climbs 
over  the  agave-speared  hills  we  found  the  lovely 
little    bird    everywhere,    sitting    on    top    of    the 


bushes  singing  with  head  thrown  back  in  fine 
enjoyment  of  his  bright  lay."  The  bird  has  a 
most  winsome  manner,  all  out  of  keeping 
with  the  surroundings.  Its  cheery  tra-rcc'-rah, 
rcc'-rah-rcc  with  many  variations  can  be  heard 
throughout  all  our  southwestern  desert  country 
and  far  down  on  the  Mexican  plateau.  In  most 
places  it  is  very  common,  exceeding  in  frequency 
all  other  birds  in  the  area. 

The  ornithologists  have  found  slight  differ- 
ences by  which  they  define  three  species.  The 
eastern  race,  the  common  Black-throated  Spar- 
row, extends  from  western  Kansas  south 
through  Texas  and  across  the  Rio  Grande  into 
the  nearer  Mexican  States.  The  western  race  is 
named  justly  the  Desert  Sparrow  or  Desert 
Black-throat  (Auipliispi.'^a  bilineata  descrticola). 
and  has  much  the  larger  breeding  area.  It  ex- 
tends from  the  Pecos  cotmtry  of  Texas,  west  to 
the  Pacific,  and  from  Nevada  and  Utah  south 
to  Lower  California,  .Sonora.  and  Chihuahua. 
The  third  race  is  the  Mexican  Black-throated 
S]iarrow  (Aiiiplu'spi::a  bilineata  grisca)  that 
ranges  over  the  central  Mexico  plateau. 

Mrs.  Bailey  gives  very  clear  reasons  for  en- 
thusiasm for  this  bird.  She  says,  "  When  we 
camped  on  the  arid  mesa  of  the  Pecos  River, 
among  the  sounds  that  were  oftenest  in  our  ears 
were  the  songs  of  the  Mockingbird  and  Non- 
pareil, the  iterant  pe-cos'  of  the  Scaled  Quail,  and 
the  calls  of  the  Verdin  and  Roadrtinner,  while, 
mingled  with  them,  always  tinkling  from  the 
bushes,  was  the  cheery  little  tune  of  A)npliis- 
pica." 


FINCHES 


49 


BELL'S  SPARROW 
Amphispiza  belli  (  Cassin) 

A,    11     r      Xuml.cr    -,74 


General  Description. —  Length,  5'j  inches.  Upper 
parts,  j^ray  ;  under  parts,  white,  liill.  small ;  wing,  long 
and  slightly  rounded ;  tail,  trifle  shorter  tlian  wing, 
rounded  or  double  rounded,  the  feather;  broad  and 
rounded  at  the  ends. 

Color. —  Adults:  Above  (including  ear  region  and 
sides  of  neck),  deep  brownish  slate-gray  becoming 
browner  on  back,  where,  as  well  as  on  crown,  some- 
times narrowly  streaked  with  blackish  or  dusky;  wings 
and  tail,  dull  blackish  with  light  brown  edgings  (pale 
grayish  on  primaries),  the  middle  and  greater  coverts 
indistinctly  tipped  with  pale  brownish  huffy  or  pale 
wood-brown  ;  eye-ring,  cheek  stripe,  and  under  parts  in 
general,  white;  bitnid  sIrif'L-  on  sides  of  thioat  and 
forcnfi-k.  and  spot  in  middle  of  chest,  black  or  dusky- 
grayish;  sides  and  Hanks.  tin,i;ed  with  huffy  and 
streaked   with   dusky;   edge   of   wing,   pale   yellow;   iris, 


brown.  Young:  Crown  and  hindneck.  dull  gray, 
the  former  broadly  streaked  with  black ;  back  and 
shoulders,  grayish  brown  broadly  streaked  with  black; 
under  parts,  pale  yellowish  buff;  the  chest  and  sides  of 
throat  broadly  streaked  with  blackish,  the  breast,  sides, 
and  flanks  with  smaller  streaks  of  the  same;  a  huffy 
whitish  eye-ring;  wings  and  tail  much  as  in  adults. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Ne.st:  In  bushes,  within  3  feet  of 
the  ground  ;  composed  of  grasses,  vegetable  fibers,  weed 
stems  ;  lined  with  fine  grass  and  hair.  Eggs  ;  3  or  4, 
pale  greenish-blue  finely  speckled  with  dark  redflish- 
brown,  chiefly  at  large  end. 

Distribution. —  Central  and  southern  California 
(valleys  and  foothills)  west  of  the  Sierra  Nevada,  and 
Colorado  Desert  from  about  latitude  38°,  and  south 
into  northern  Lower  California;  also  on  tlie  Santa 
Barbara  Islands. 


On  the  alkali  plains  of  the  Southwest,  where 
only  yuccas,  sas^ebrtish,  and  cacti  grow,  is  the 
home-land  of  Bell's  Sparrow  and  its  variants, 
the  Sage  Sparrow  (Ainpliispi::a  iw-c'adnisis  ncva- 
densis).  Gray  Sage  Sparrow  {Amphispiza  ncva- 
dcnsis  cincrca).  and  the  California  -Sage  Sparrow 


(Aniphispi::a  nevadcnsis  canesccns) .  Here,  amid 
the  dreary  wastes  of  hot  sands,  these  grayish 
brown  or  brownish  gray  little  mites  cheerfully 
go  about  the  duties  of  their  lives,  preaching 
sermons  on  patience,  courage,  and  the  joy  of  life 
to  all  their  human  friends. 


PINE-WOODS  SPARROW 
Peucaea  aestivalis  aestivalis    {  Liclitciistcin) 


General  Description. —  Len.gth,  5'„.  inches.  Upjier 
parts,  brown  and  gray  in  streaks ;  inider  parts,  whitish. 
Wings,  rather  short  and  romnled ;  tail,  equal  to  or 
longer  than  wing,  graduated,  the  feathers  narrow  but 
with  rounded  tips. 

Color. — .Adults:  Above,  gray  broadly  streaked  with 
chestnut-brown  ;  tail,  dusky  with  broad  gray  edgings ; 
the  middle  pair  of  feathers,  gray  with  a  center  stripe 
of  dusky;  edge  of  wing,  light  yellow;  sides  of  head 
and    neck,     smoke-gray    or    dull    ash-gray,    the    latter 


streaked  with  chestnut  or  dark  chestnut-brown  ;  a  nar- 
row chestnut  or  chestnut-l)rown  stri[ie  behind  eye ; 
cliin  and  throat,  very  pale  dull  grayish  or  buft'y  grayish 
white  deepening  on  chest,  sides,  and  flanks  into  pale 
grayish-buffy  or  buffy-grayish  ;  iris,  brown. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Ne.st  :  On  ground,  among  palmetto 
scrubs ;  constructed  of  fine  dry  grasses,  in  a  neat, 
symmetrical  manner.     Eggs  :     4.  pure  white. 

Distribution. —  Breeds  in  southern  Georgia  and 
nortlu-rn  Florida;  winters  in  Florida. 


The  Pine-woods  .Sparrow  of  Florida  and  its  Virginia,    but    in    the    central    west    thev    reach 

northern  variety    Bachman's  Sparrow,  or  South-  southern    Ohio,    and    central    Illinois.      In    the 

ern    Pine    Finch    (Pciica-a    (cstivalis    hachmani)  far    South    they    haunt    only    the    jiiiie    woods 

are      striped      .Sparrows      that      are      distinctly  and  nest  in  the  palmetto  scrub  in  the  pineries. 

southern   birds.      In   the   east   they  are  credited  Further  north  they  show  greater  variations  of 

as    coming    only     as     far     north    as     southern  nesting  sites,  but  always  on  the  ground,  with  the 


5f> 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


nest  "  distinctly  roofed-over  or  domed,"  accord- 
ing to  the  description  given  by  Major  Bendire. 
He  continues  by  saying  that  the  nests  "  are 
cybndrical  in  shape,  about  seven  or  eight  inches 
long  by  three  in  height  .  .  .  and  the  roof  a 
little  over  half  an  inch  in  thickness.  .  .  .  The 
nests  are  all  constructed  out  of  dry  grasses 
exclusively,  and  are  lined  with  fine  grass  tops 
only.  Some  are  much  more  artistically  and  com- 
pactly built  than  others." 

Yet  a  greater  claim  to  attention  this  bird  has 
in  its  beautiful  song.  Dr.  Chapman  in  speaking 
of  the  Pine-woods  Sparrow,  goes  so  far  as  to 
say,  "  In  my  opinion  its  song  is  more  beautiful 
than  that  of  any  other  of  our  Sparrows.     It  is 


very  simple  —  I  write  it  cJice-c-c-c—dc,  dc,  dc ; 
chc-c—chcc-o,  chcc-o,  chcc-o,  chcc-o  —  but  it  pos- 
sesses all  the  exquisite  tenderness  and  pathos  of 
the  melody  of  the  Hermit  Thrush ;  indeed,  in 
purity  of  tone  and  in  execution  I  should  con- 
sider the  Sparrow  the  superior  songster." 

The  Southern  Pine  Finch  (Bachman's)  has  a 
song  very  similar  tO'  the  Pine-woods  Sparrow's. 
Its  song  has  been  compared  to  the  plaintive  song 
of  the  Field  Sparrow,  but  louder  and  far  sweeter. 
As  far  north  as  the  Ohio  River,  the  Southern 
Pine  Finch  may  be  heard  (and  seldom  seen)  in 
open  oak  woods.  Dr.  W.  W.  Cooke  found  that 
it  is  extending  its  range  north  of  the  Potomac 
and  over  the  Monongahela. 


SONG  SPARROW 

Melospiza  melodia  melodia  (Jl'ilson) 

A.   O.    V.    .\umbcr   581       See  Color   I'l.ite  84 


Other  Names. —  Silver  Tongue ;  Everybody's  Dar- 
ling; Ground  Sparrow;  Hedge  Sparrow;  Bush  Spar- 
row ;  Ground-bird ;  Marsh  Sparrow ;  Red  Grass-bird ; 
Swamp  Finch. 


A^ 


Drawing  by  R.  I.  Brasher 

SONG  SPARROW  (1  nat.  size) 

A  sweet  singer  of  the  spring  and  summer  and  a  useful 
friend  the  year  round 

General  Description. —  Length,  6H  inches.  Upper 
parts,  brown  and  black  in  streaks  ;  under  parts,  white 
streaked  with  black.  Wings,  short  and  rounded ;  tail, 
about  the  length  of  wing,  rounded  or  double  rounded, 
the  feathers  narrow  and  blunt. 

Color. —  Adults  :  Crown,  brown  narrowly  streaked 
with  black  and  divided  by  a  narrow  center  stripe  of 
gray ;  hindneck,  brownish  gray  streaked  or  washed  with 


brown  ;  shoulders  and  between,  black  centrally  produc- 
ing streaks,  these  margined  laterally  with  brown  ;  the 
edges  of  the  tail-feathers,  brownish-gray;  rump,  olive- 
grayish  streaked  with  brown ;  upper  tail-coverts, 
browner  than  rump  and  more  distinctly  streaked ;  tail, 
brown ;  lesser  wing-coverts,  brown ;  middle  coverts, 
brown  margined  terminally  with  pale  brownish  gray ; 
greater  coverts,  brown  margined  tenninally  with  paler 
and  marked  with  a  broad  center  tear-shaped  (mostly 
concealed)  space  of  blackish;  inner  wing-quills,  mostly 
blackish,  but  outer  webs  chiefly  brown  ;  edge  of  wing, 
white;  a  broad  stripe  of  olive-gray  over  eye;  a  broad 
cheek  stripe  of  dull  white  or  pale  buf¥y,  margined  below 
by  a  conspicuous  stripe  or  triangular  spot  of  black  or 
mixed  brown  and  black ;  under  parts,  white ;  the  chest, 
marked  ivith  wedge-shaped  streaks  of  black  edged  with 
rusty  brown,  these  streaks  in  lower  central  portion  of 
chest,  or  upper  breast,  fonning  an  irregular  spot ;  sides 
and  flanks,  streaked  with  black  and  rusty-brown ;  under 
tail-coverts,  white  or  pale  buffy;  iris,  brown.  (In 
suiTimer  the  colors  grayer,  with  streaks  on  chest,  etc., 
narrower,  sometimes  wholly  black;  in  winter  the  gen- 
eral coloration  browner,  the  brown  parts  more  rusty.) 
Young  :  Much  like  adults,  but  without  any  gray  on 
upper  parts  ;  the  crown,  duller  brown  with  the  indistinct 
center  stripe  dull  grayish  buffy  and  the  narrow  blackish 
streaks  much  less  distinct  than  in  adults ;  ground  color 
of  back  and  shoulders,  light  buiTy  brownish  or  dull 
bufify;  under  parts,  duller  white,  often  quite  buffy, 
witli  the  streaks  narrower  and  much  less  distinct. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest:  Typical  site  on  ground, 
in  fields,  adjoining  woods,  sheltered  under  a  tussock  of 
grass  ;  sometimes  in  bushes,  cedar  or  other  small  trees, 
or  in  hollows  of  apple  or  other  trees ;  constructed  of 


FINCHES 


51 


grass,  weed  stems,  leaves,  lined  with  I'ine  grass  and 
hair.  Eggs;  4  or  5,  dull  pale  greenish  spotted  thickly 
or  sparsely  spotted  or  blotched  with  shades  of  reddish 
or  dark  brown  and  lavender. 


Distribution. —  Creeds  in  the  United  States  (except 
the  .South  .\tlantic  and  Gulf  States),  southern  Canada, 
southern  .Alaska,  and  Me.xico;  winters  in  .Alaska  and 
most  of  the  United  States  southward. 


This  is  |ir(:)bahlv  tlie  licst  known  nf  the  vc-ry 
large  Sparrow  family.  It  lacks  the  full  meas- 
ure of  the  Chipping  Sparrow's  pretty  confidence 
in  the  frienrJliness  of  man,  and  rather  prefers 
the  fields  and  the  roadsides  to  the  immediate 
vicinity  of  human  habitations  :  htit  against  these 
negative  qualities  are  to  be  placed  its  more  char- 
acteristic plumage,  and  above  all  its  real  genitis 
as  a  songster.     Thousands  of  tiersons.  old  and 


young,  who  pay  little  or  no  heed  to  the  song  of 
the  I'ield  Sparrow  or  the  \''esi)er  S[)arrow  or  the 
l""ox  Sparrow,  recognize  instantly  the  character- 
istic little  motif  of  the  Song  Sparrow.  .And  the 
bird  lays  an  additional  claim  on  the  friendship 
and  sympathy  of  all,  by  the  fact  that  it  is  a 
freqtient  winter  resident  in  the  northern  .States. 
Though  to  untrained  observation  confusingly 
like  some  of  the  other  Sparrows,  this  birfl  should 


N> 


/n  I 


Hhuto  of  a  mounted  t;roup  in  the  Am.  Mus.  Nat.  Hist.  Omrlesy  of  Nat.  Asso.  Aud.  Soc. 

CENTERS  OF  DISTRIBUTION  OF  SEVEN  OF  THE  GEOGRAPHICAL  RACES  OF  THE  SONG  SPARROW 
z.  Aleutian;  2.  Sooty;  3.  Heermann's;  4.  Mountain;  5-  Desert;  6.  Mexican;  7-  Eastern 


52 


BIRDS   OF    AxMERICA 


readily  be  identified  by  its  stronq-ly  marked 
breast,  its  stubby  bill,  and  its  sligiill\'  forked 
tail,  as  shown  in  flight. 

The  Song  Sparrow  takes  his  singing  very 
seriously.  Almost  invariably  he  presents  his 
recital  from  the  top  of  a  bush  or  a  fence  post 
or  a  comparatively  low  tree.  .Always  as  he  be- 
gins to  sing  he  throws  his  head  backward,  and 
points  his  bill  at  an  angle  of  about  45  degrees,  and 
this  position  he  retains  until  the  song  is  finished. 
He  seems  intent  upon  sending  his  little  prayer 
of  thankfulness  straight  up  to  heaven,  by  the 
shortest  route.  Over  and  over  again  the  sweet 
and  sincere  little  petition  is  ofifered  —  and  who 
can  doubt  that  it  is  heeded?  There  arc  very 
many    \ai'iatinns    of    the    song,    and    sometimes 


Photo  by  S.  A.  L.iUnJgw 

YOUNG  SONG  SPARROWS 

several  are  presented  in  succession  by  the  same 
singer.  Mr.  Burroughs  records  one  bird  who 
"  had  five  distinct  songs,  each  as  markedly  dif- 
ferent from  the  others  as  any  human  songs, 
which  he  repeated  one  after  another.  He  may 
have  had  a  sixth  or  a  seventh,  but  he  bethought 
himself  of  some  business  in  the  next  field,  and 
flew  away  before  he  had  exhausted  his  reper- 
tory." (IViiys  of  Nature)  Mr.  Mathews  de- 
votes several  pages,  in  his  Field  Book  of  Wild 
Birds  and  Their  Music,  to  many  variations  of 
the  song,  reduced  to  musical  notation.  The 
commonest  form,  however,  begins  with  two  notes 
on  the  same  pitch,  followed  by  a  third,  four  or 
five  tones  higher,  all  of  these  accented,  and  fol- 
lowed by  a  descending  run  in  the  same  general 
rhythm.  Whatever  the  form  of  the  song,  how- 
ever, its  spirit  is  always  the  same,  and  Mr. 
Burroughs  interprets  this  very  faithfully  when 
he  says  that  it  expresses  "  simple  faith  and 
trust." 

No   other   bird    of    the   temperate   and    arctic 


regions  of  North  America,  with  the  possible  ex- 
cei)tion  of  the  Horned  Lark,  has  proved  so  sen- 
sitive to  influences  of  physical  environments,  and 
as  a  result  it  has  become  divided  into  a  large 
number  of  geographic  forms,  some  of  extensive, 
others  of  very  circumscribed  range.  In  every 
case  the  area  of  distribution  coincides  exactly 
with  the  uniformity  or  continuity  of  physical 
conditions.  Thus  the  form  having  the  widest 
distribution  is  that  inhabiting  the  Atlantic  water- 
shed, or  the  entire  region  from  the  Atlantic 
coast  to  the  wooded  valleys  of  the  Great  Plains, 
while  those  of  the  inost  limited  range  belong 
to  the  Pacific  slope,  where  the  topographic  and 
resultant  climatic  features  are  so  varied  and 
complicated.  In  California  nearly  every  dis- 
tinct drainage  area  has  its  own'  peculiar  form  of 
the  Song  Sparrow ;  one  form,  the  Alameda 
.Song  Sparrow  {Mclospiza  mclodia  pusillula), 
is  strictly  limited  to  the  salt  marshes  around  San 
Francisco  Bav. 

The  Mountain  Song  Sparrow  {Melospiza 
uichidia  iiiiiiilaiia)  is  found  in  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tain district  of  the  United  States  west  to  and  in- 
cluding the  .Sierra  Nevada,  in  California,  north 
to  eastern  Oregon,  southern  Idaho,  and  south- 
ern Montana;  south  in  winter  to  western  Texas 
and  northern  Mexico.  In  coloration  it  is  grayer 
than  the  type  species,  its  tail  and  wings  are 
longer,  and  its  bill  is  smaller  and  relatively  more 
slender. 

Merrill's  .Song  Sparrow  {Melospiza  mclodia 
inerrilli )  is  very  much  like  the  Mountain  Song 
Sparrow  :  it  is  slightly  darker  and  more  uniform 
above  and  the  grayish  edging  to  the  feathers  of 
the  shoulders  and  the  space  between  them  are 
less  strongly  contrasted  with  the  darker  centers 
which  are  usually  more  brown  than  black.  It 
breeds  from  northern  California  (in  the  moun- 
tains), through  Oregon  and  ^^'ashington  east  of 
the  Cascade  Mountains,  to  northwestern  Idaho ; 
in  winter  it  goes  south  into  Nevada,  Utah, 
.\rizona,  and  northern  Sonora. 

The  slender  bill  of  the  Desert  Song  Sparrow 
(Melospiza  mclodia  falla.v)  is  like  that  of  the 
Mountain  Song  Sparrow,  but  its  tail  and  wings 
average  decidedly  shorter  and  its  coloration  is 
conspicuously  paler  and  more  rusty.  It  inhabits 
the  Sonoran  desert  district  of  southwestern 
Arizona,  southern  Nevada,  southeastern  Cali- 
fornia, northeastern  Lower  California,  and 
Sonora. 

Heermann's  Song  Sparrow  ( lifelospiza  luc- 
lotlui  Ih-cnuaiuii)  is  found  in  the  central  valleys 
of  California,  including  the  lower  levels  of  the 


Courtesy  of   thu  N..w  Yo.k  State  Museum 


Plate  84 


m^^ ;  '^ / 


SONG    SPARROW      Mdospiza  meladia  meh„i:.,  (Wilson) 


AUTUMN 

LINCOLN'S  SPARROW 
MduciHZa  linmlni  linrnhd  (Autlubnii 


Piliila  ,-ri,throphlhahniLS  ,r,itl,ri,iihlhnln-n-:  (J.i 
FEMALE 


FINCHES 


53 


Sacramento  and  San  Joaquin  basin.  It  is 
smaller  than  the  type  species  and  darker  and 
browner  in  coloration. 

The  San  Diego  Song  Sparrow  ( Mclospica  iiic- 
lodia  coopcri)  is  slightly  smaller  than  Heer- 
mann's  Song  Sparrow ;  the  prevailing  color  of 
the  back  is  a  grayish-olive  broadly  streaked  with 
black.  It  lives  in  the  southern  coast  district  of 
California  and  the  northern  Pacific  coast  district 
of  Lower  California. 

On  the  San  Clemente,  San  Miguel,  and  Santa 
Rosa  islands,  California,  is  fo.und  the  San  Cle- 
mente Song  Sparrow  (Mclospiza  iiiclodia  cle- 
mentcc)  ;  it  is  larger  than  the  San  Diego  Song 
Sparrow  and  grayer  in  coloration,  the  back  being 
a  light  olive-gray  with  narrower  black  streaks. 

The  Santa  Barbara  Song  Sparrow  ( Mclospisa 
melodia  graminca)  found  on  the  Santa  Barbara 
and  Santa  Cruz  islands,  California,  is  like  the 
San  Clemente  in  color  but  smaller  in  size. 

Samuels's  Song  Sparrow  {Mclospica  iiiclodia 
saiiiuclis)  is  exactly  like  Heermann's  Song 
Sparrow  in  color  but  in  size  it  is  much  smaller 
and  its  bill  is  more  slender.  It  is  found  on  the 
coast  slope  of  central  California,  except  in  the 
salt-water  marshes  of  San  Francisco  Bay,  from 
Santa  Cruz  County  to  Humboldt  County. 

Similar  in  size  and  proportions  to  Samuels's 
Song  Sparrow  but  very  different  in  coloration 
is  the  Mendocino  Song  Sparrow  (McIospi::a 
melodia  clcoiicusis)  of  the  northern  coast  district 
of  California  and  southwestern  Oregon;  its  .gen- 
eral color  is  more  reddish,  the  upper  parts  being 
a  deep  rusty  olive,  conspicuously  and  broadlv 
streaked  with  dark  rusty-brown,  or  chestnut,  and 


black  ;  tlie  streaks  on  the  chest  are  also  dark 
rusty-brown  or  chestnut. 

The  Rusty  Song  .Sparrow  (  Mclospica  melodia 
morphna)  breeds  from  the  extreme  southern 
portion  of  Alaska  through  British  Columbia  to 
western  Oregon  and  in  winter  it  travels  south  to 
southern  California.  It  is  larger  than  the  Men- 
docino Song  Sparrow  but  its  coloration  is  simi- 
lar, the  rusty  brown  or  chestnut  streaks  on  the 
hack  being  less  strongly  contrasted  with  the  rusty 
olive  ground  color. 

In  southern  Alaska,  on  the  coast  and  the  islands 
off  the  coast  is  the  home  of  the  Sooty  Song 
Sparrow  ( Mclospiaa  melodia  nifina).  In  winter 
it  comes  south  to  the  coast  of  British  Columbia, 
Vancouver  Island,  and  northwestern  ^^'^ashing- 
ton.  It  is  larger  than  the  Rusty  Song  Sparrow 
;ind  darker — sootv  rather  than  rusty. 

Four  other  Alaskan  Song  Sparrows  are  the 
Yakutat  (Mclospiza  melodia  eaurina),  the  Kenai 
{ Melospi::a  me'lodia  kemiiensis),  the  Kodiak,  or 
Bischofif's  (Melospiza  melodia  insignis).  and  the 
Aleutian  (Melospiza  melodia  sanaka).  The 
Yakutat  is  a  little  larger  than  the  Sooty,  the 
Kenai  is  larger  than  the  Yakutat,  and  the  Kodiak 
and  Aleutian  are  still  larger.  All  are  graver  in 
coloration. 

The  food  of  this  species  varies  considerably. 
About  three-fourths  of  its  diet  consists  of  the 
seeds  of  noxious  weeds  and  one-fourth  of  in- 
sects. Of  these,  beetles,  especially  weevils,  con- 
stitute the  major  portion.  Ants,  wasps,  bugs 
(including  the  black  olive  scale),  and  caterpil- 
lars are  also  eaten.  Grasshoppers  are  taken  by 
the  eastern  bird,  but  not  by  the  western  ones. 


LINCOLN'S  SPARROW 

Melospiza  lincolni  lincolni  (Audubon) 

.\.   O,    V     Xumbcr   -8?        See   lolor   Plate  84 


Other  Names. —  Lincoln's  Song  Sparrow:  Lincoln's 
Finch. 

General  Description. —  Length.  sH  inclies.  Upper 
parts,  brown  and  olive,  streaked  with  black ;  under 
parts,  buff  and  white,  streaked  with  black.  Wings, 
short  and  rounded:  tail,  about  the  length  of  wing, 
rounded  or  double-rounded,  the  feathers  narrow  and 
blunt. 

Color. —  Adults:  Crown,  light  mummy-brown, 
conspicuously  streaked  with  black  and  divided  by  a 
center  stripe  of  olive-grayish;  hindneck.  back,  shoulders, 
rump,  and  upper  tail-coverts,  light  olive  or  buffy  olive 
sharply   streaked   with   black,   the   streaks   broadest   on 


back :  outer  surface  of  wings,  more  rusty  brownish 
especially  on  innermost  greater  coverts  and  secondaries  : 
the  greater  coverts  and  inner  wing-quills  conspicuously 
blackish  centrally:  tail,  light  grayish  brown;  sides  of 
neck  grayish  or  olive-grayish  ;  ear  region  similar,  but 
rather  darker  or  browner;  cheek  region,  space  behind 
ear.  broad  band  across  chest,  sides,  flanks,  and  under 
tail-coverts  buffy ;  the  chest,  sides,  flanks,  and  under 
tail-cover! s  streaked  zvith  black;  rest  of  the  under 
parts  white,  the  throat  usuallv  flecked  or  streaked  with 
black. 

Nest    and    Eggs. —  Nest:      On    ground,    in    marshy 
land;    constructed    entirely   of   grass,   lined    with    finer 


54 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


blades  of  the  same  material.  Eggs:  3  or  4.  white,  pale 
greenish  or  brownish  white  rather  coarsely  blotched 
with  chestnut  and  lavender-gray  chiefly  around  large 
end. 


Distribution. —  North  America  at  large;  breeding 
chiefly  north  of  the  United  States  and  in  the  higher 
parts  of  the  Rocky  Aloinitains  and  Sierra  Nevada; 
south  in  winter  to  Panama. 


"  Bird-afraid-of-his-shadow,"  W.  Leon  Daw- 
son calls  this  Sparrow,  and  then  he  asks,  "  Why 
should  a  bird  of  inconspicuous  color  steal  silently 
through  our  woods  and  slink  along  our  streams 
with  bated  breath  as  if  in  mortal  dread  of  the 
human  eye  ?  Are  we  such  hobgoblins  ?  "  Yet 
this  appears  to  be  the  characteristic  demeanor  of 
the  bird  throughout  its  very  wide  range.  And 
the  tendency  of  this  conduct  to  make  the  bird 
little  known  is  strengthened  by  its  habit  of  arriv- 
ing in  the  northern  latitudes  after  most  of  the 
other  birds  are  on  hand  and  engaging  our  atten- 
tion, and  departing  in  the  fall  with  the  general 
wave  of  migrating  Sparrows,  in  whiclt  it  loses 
its  identity. 

From  the  Song  Sparrow,  which  it  closely  re- 
sembles, it  may  be  distinguished  by  its  smaller 
size,  its  shorter  tail,  the  bufif  belt  across  its  nar- 
rowly streaked  breast,  and  the  olive-gray  color 


of  the  sides  of  its  head.  Its  song,  which  is  not 
often  heard,  is.  according  to  Dr.  Dwight,  "  not 
loud,  and  suggests  the  bubbling,  guttural  notes 
of  the  House  Wren,  combined  with  the  sweet 
rippling  music  of  the  Purple  Finch,  and  when 
you  think  the  song  is  done  there  is  an  unexpected 
aftermath." 

The  food  of  the  Lincoln  Sparrow  resembles 
that  of  the  Song  Sparrow,  but  more  ants  and 
fewer  grasshoppers  are  destroyed  than  by  the 
Song  Sparrow. 

In  British  Columbia  and  western  Washington 
is  a  variety  of  the  Lincoln  Sparrow  called  For- 
bush's  Sparrow  (Mclospha  lincolni  striata) .  In 
migration  it  is  found  in  California  also.  The 
stripe  over  the  eye  and  the  upper  parts  are  more 
strongly  olivaceous  and  the  dark  streaks  of  the 
back  are  blacker  and  more  numerous.  Its 
habits  are  similar  to  those  of  its  congener. 


SWAMP  SPARROW 
Melospiza  georgiana  {Latham') 

A.    O.    n.    Number    584         Sec    Color  n.Tte   84 


Courtesy  of  Am.  AIus.  Nat.  Hist. 
SWAMP  SPARROW  (J  nat.  size) 
A  sprite  of  swampy  country 


Other  Name. —  Swamp  Song  Sparrow. 

General  Description. —  Length.  534  inches.  Upper 
parts,  brown  streaked  with  black ;  under  parts,  gray. 
Wings,  short  and  rounded ;  tail,  about  the  length  of 
wing,  rounded  or  double  rounded,  the  feathers  narrow 
and  almost  pointed  at  the  tip. 

Color. — Adults  ;  Forehead,  black  divided  by  a  center 
line  of  grayish  or  whitish;  cro'ani,  chcstnnf  sometimes 
streaked  with  blackish  ;  back  of  head,  blackish  laterally, 
grayish  centrally ;  hack  and  shoulders,  light  brown 
broadly  streaked  with  black ;  rump,  olive-brownish 
streaked  with  dusky :  upper  tail-coverts,  more  rusty 
brown,  distinctly  streaked  with  black ;  tail,  rusty  brown  ; 
exposed  surface  of  greater  wing-coverts  and  second- 
aries chestnut;  inner  icing-quills  black,  edged  on  outer 
zi'cbs  7vith  chestnut  and  bufTy ;  sides  of  neck  and  hind- 
neck,  gray ;  ear  region,  brownish  gray,  or  light  brownish 
margined  above  by  a  distinct  streak  behind  eye  of  black 
and  chestnut  and  beneath  by  a  narrower  streak  of 
same ;  chin,  throat,  and  abdomen,  white  or  grayish 
white;  chest,  light  gray  or  brownish  gray,  sometimes 
narrowly  and  indistinctly  streaked  with  dusky ;  sides 
and  flanks  (especially  the  latter),  tawny  brown;  under 
tail-coverts,  huffy  with  central  marks  of  dusky. 

Nest   and    Eggs. —  Nest  ;     Placed   on   ground    in    a 


FINCHES 


55 


biincli  of  flags  or  sedge  grass,  in  or  on  edge  of  marshes, 
or  wet  meadows;  constructed  entirely  of  grass  and  a 
few  leaves,  lined  with  finer  similar  material.  P2ggs  : 
4  or  5.  pale  greenish  or  bluish  white,  clouded  with 
yellowish  brown  and  lilac. 


Distribution. —  Eastern  North  .America  to  the  Plains, 
north  to  the  Hritish  provinces,  including  Newfoundland 
and  Labrador ;  breeds  from  the  northern  States  north- 
ward :  and  winters  from  Massachusetts  southward  to 
the  Gulf  States. 


Any  swamp  —  within  its  natural  range  — 
whether  near  the  ocean  or  inland,  is  good  enough 
for  the  Swamp  Sparrow,  and  occasionally  it 
spends  the  winter  —  if  the  weather  be  not  too 
severe  —  in  cat-tail  marshes  along  the  coast  of 
Long  Island  and  sotithern  New  England.  The 
song  resembles  tliat  of  the  Chipping  Sparrow, 
though  the  quality  of  the  tone  is  sweeter  and 
fuller. 

^^'alter  .S.  Barrows  says,  in  Michigan  Bird 
Life:  "  In  our  own  experience  the  song  merely 
suggests  that  of  the  Chipping  Sparrow,  but  the 
notes  are  less  rapid,  far  sweeter,  and  have  a 
distinct  metallic  or  bell-like  tone  which  suggests 
the  ring  of  cut  glass." 

The  bird's  plain  breast  distinguishes  it 
from  the  Song  Sparrow,  many  of  which  are 
found  in  the  swamps  in  autumn,  while  in  the 
spring  its  reddish-brown  wings  atid  chestnut- 
colored  crown  are  not  duplicated  by  any  member 
of  its  family,  save  the  Chipping  Sparrow,  which 
does  not  frequent  swamps  and  has  a  rnore  slender 
figure. 

The  food  habits  of  this  bird  are  sitnilar  to 
those  of  the  Song  Sparrow.  It  takes  more 
seeds  of  polygonums  than  most  birds  and  eats 
largely  of  the  seeds  of  the  sedges  and  aquatic 
panicums  that  abound  in  its  swampy  habitat. 


NEST  AND  EGGS  OF  SWAMP  SPARROW 


FOX    SPARROW 

Passerella  iliaca  iliaca   (Mcrrcm) 

A.   O,    U.    Number   585       See  Color   Plate  83 


Other  Names. —  Foxy  Finch:  Ferru,ginous  Finch; 
Fo.x-tail ;  Fox-colored  Sparrow. 

General  Description. —  Length.  ()y,  inches.  Upper 
parts,  gray  streaked  with  brown,  or  uniform  chestnut; 
under  parts,  white  spotted  with  chestnut.  Bill,  large, 
conical,  sharp-pointed,  and  strong;  wings,  long  and 
pointed;  tail,  about  •S',  length  of  wing,  very  slightly 
rounded  or  double  rounded. 

Color. —  AnuLTS :  Upper  parts,  mixed  deep  rusty 
and  brownish  gray  in  variable  proportions.  1.  Grav 
Phase:  Above,  olive-gray,  the  back  and  shoulders 
broadly  streaked  Xi'ilh  rusty  brown  or  chestnut,  the 
crown   tinged  with  the  same ;   lower  rump  and   upper 


tail-coverts,  cinnamon-rufous;  the  middle  and  greater 
wing-co\erts.  narrm^'ly  tipj^ed  zvilh  zchifish  ;  wings  and 
inner  webs  of  tail-feathers,  dusky  brown;  under  parts, 
white  heavily  spotted  on  chest,  sides  of  throat,  etc., 
with  chestnut-rufous ;  the  sides  and  flanks,  broadly 
streaked  with  same.  IL  Rtipous  Phase:  .'\bove.  nearly 
uniform  chestnut  or  chestnut-rufous,  the  upper  rump, 
sides  of  neck,  and  ear  region  slightly  intermixed  with 
olive  or  olive-grayish ;  inider  parts  as  in  the  gray 
phase,  but  the  chestnut-rufous  spots  larger,  more 
confluent. 

Nest   and    Eggs. —  Nest:     On   ground,   under   ever- 
greens;  constructed   of  grass,  moss,   fine  twigs,   and  a 


56 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


few  leaves ;  lined  with  fine  grass  and  feathers.  Eggs  : 
4  or  5,  pale  bluish  green,  heavily  speckled  with  chestnut 
or  umber-brown. 

Distribution. —  Northern  North  .'Vmerica  ;  breeding 
from  Nova  Scotia,  Magdalen  Islands,  Anticosti  Island, 
Newfoundland,   northern    Maine,   Province   of   Quebec, 


etc.,  northward  and  northwestward  to  valley  of  Lower 
.Anderson  River,  Kowak  River,  and  Bering  seacoast  of 
Alaska  (north  of  the  Alaska  peninsula)  ;  south  in 
winter  to  northern  Florida  and  westward  to  middle 
Texas,  and  eastern  base  of  Rocky  Mountains;  occa- 
sional on  southern  coast  of  Alaska  during  migration. 


This  is  not  only  one  of  the  laigest,  but  is  the 
handsomest  and  withal  perhaps  the  most  charac- 
teristic of  the  American  Sparrows.  Most  of  the 
members  of  this  very  large  family  are  modestly 
garbed,  and  furthermore  there  is  so  much  simi- 
larity in  their  plumage,  that  sometimes  it  takes 
a  sharp  eye  and  acute  observation  to  distinguish 
one  species  from  another.     But  "  Foxy  "  may 


at  once,  and  often  with  such  vigor  as  to  make  a 
considerable  commotion  in  the  dry  leaves. 
Another  peculiarity  of  the  bird  is  shown  when  a 
flock  of  them  are  disturbed  while  feeding  on  the 
ground.  Under  these  conditions,  instead  of  seek- 
ing concealment  in  the  brush  (as  their  relatives 
are  likely  to  do),  these  Sparrows  generally  fly  to 
the  low  branches  of  the  nearest  trees  where  they 


Drawing  by  R.  I.  Brasher 

FOX  SPARROW  (5  nat.  size) 
A  handsome  bird  whose  sweet  whistle  is  all  too  infrequently  heard 


readily  be  identified  not  only  by  his  size,  but  by 
his  rich  tawny  coloring  (like  that  of  a  fox  in  his 
summer  pelage),  as  well  as  by  certain  of  his 
mannerisms,  and  by  his  fine  song.  It  should  be 
remeinbered,  too,  that  though  he  is  frequently 
seen  in  many  regions  which  he  traverses  in  his 
migrations,  he  is  essentially  a  migrant  as  far  as 
the  United  States  are  concerned.  His  real  home 
—  that  is,  the  regions  in  which  he  breeds  —  is 
in  the  great  forests  of  Canada.  In  the  general 
latitude  of  New  York  and  New  England,  he 
tarries,  in  his  northward  journey,  from  the 
middle  of  March  to  the  end  of  April,  and  in 
his  southward  passage,  from  about  the  middle  of 
October  to  the  end  of  November.  During  these 
visits  he  is  likely  to  be  found  both  in  open  woods 
and  in  bushes  skirting  fields. 

When  feeding  on  the  ground  one  of  his  man- 
nerisms is  his  habit  of  scratching  with  both  feet 


are  apt  to  remain  in  plain  sight,  and  whence 
they  return  in  a  few  minutes  to  the  ground,  if 
they  are  not  much  frightened. 

"  Foxy's  "  song  —  most  frequently  heard  in 
the  United  States  in  spring —  is  one  of  the  finest 
of  Sparrow  ditties.  It  is  a  series  of  whistled 
notes  in  descending  intervals,  and  somewhat  re- 
sembles the  lay  of  the  Vesper  Sparrow,  though 
the  tone  is  much  mellower  and  sweeter  than  the 
Vesper's.  Furthermore  its  technique  is  distinc- 
tive in  that  the  notes  are  very  prettily  slurred 
together  like  those  of  the  warbling  birds.  The 
song  is  to  be  heard  in  the  United  States  when 
the  birds  are  foraging  in  little  flocks,  but  even 
then  altogether  too  infrequently ;  for  many  a 
bird-lover  has  never  heard  it  at  all. 

The  food  of  the  Fox  Sparrow  consists  of  14 
per  cent,  animal  matter  and  86  per  cent,  vege- 
table. 


FINCHES 


57 


The  animal  food  is  of  little  interest  ex- 
cepting in  the  spring  when  it  eats  largely  of 
millepedes  of  the  Jitliis  group  and  at  the  same 
time  developes  a  taste  for  ground  beetles.  The 
vegetable  food  differs  from  that  of  most  other 
Sparrows,  in  that  it  contains  less  grass  seed,  less 
grain,  and  more  fruit,  ragweed,  and  polygonum. 
Half  of  the  food  consists  of  ragweed  and  jiolyg- 
onum,  and  more  than  a  quarter  of  fruit.  It 
does  no  direct  damage  to  cultivated  fruit,  though 
it  occasionally  eats  the  buds  of  peach  trees  and 
pear  trees.  Bradford  Torrey  has  observed  it 
feeding  on  the  fruit  of  burning  bush. 

In  western  North  America,  Ridgway  recog- 
nizes eight  forms  of  the  Fox  Sparrow.  These 
are  all  browner  than  the  type  species,  but 
vary  otherwise  and  from  one  another  only  in 
small  details.  They  are  the  Shumagin  Fox  Spar- 
row {Passcrclla  iliaca  iinalascliccnsis).  found  in 
the  Shumagin  Islands  and  the  Alaska  Peninsula; 
the  Kodiak  Fox  Sparrow  (Passcrclla  iliaca  insii- 
laris).  found  in  summer  (in  Kodiak  Island, 
Alaska,  and  in  winter  south  along  the  coast  slope 


to  southern  California;  the  Yakutat  Fox  Spar- 
row (Passcrclla  iliaca  aniicctciis),  living  in  sum- 
mer on  the  coast  of  Alaska  from  Cross  Sound 
to  Prince  William  Sound  and  in  winter  south 
to  California;  Townscnd's  Fox  Sparrow  (Passc- 
rclla iliaca  ttnciiscndi),  making  its  home  in  the 
coast  district  of  southern  Alaska  and  in  the 
winter  going  south  to  northern  California;  the 
Sooty  Fox  Sparrow  (Passcrclla  iliaca  fiiliginosa) 
summering  in  the  coast  district,  British  Colum- 
bia, on  Vancouver  Island,  and  in  northwestern 
Washington  and  wintering  south  along  the  coast 
to  San  Francisco ;  the  Slate-colored  Fox  Spar- 
row (Passcrclla  iliaca  schistacca),  living  in  the 
Rocky  Mountain  district,  north  to  the  interior  of 
British  Columbia  and  south  to  New  Mexico  and 
Arizona  and  east  to  Kansas ;  the  Thick-billed 
Fox  Sparrow  (Passcrclla  iliaca  mcgarhyncha), 
breeding  on  both  slopes  of  the  Sierra  Nevadas 
from  Mount  Shasta  southward;  and  Stephens's 
Fox  Sparrow  (Passcrclla  iliaca  stcplioisi). 
breeding  on  the  mountains  of  San  Bernardino 
and  San  Jacinto  in  southern  California. 


TEXAS  SPARROW 

Arremonops  rufivirgatus   { Lazvrcncc) 

A.    O.   U.    Number   ;86 


Other  Name. —  Green  Finch. 

General  Description. —  Length.  534  inches.  Upper 
parts,  olive-green  :  under  parts,  white.  Wings,  short 
and  much  rounded  :   tail,  shorter  than  wing. 

Color. —  Adults;  Above,  plain  grayish  olive-.green 
(wings  and  tail  brighter)  ;  the  crown,  with  two  broad 
lateral  stripes  of  chestnut-brown  separated  by  a  central 
stripe  of  olive  or  grayish  olive-green;  sides  of  head, 
dull  grayish  relieved  by  a  streak  of  chestnut-brown;  a 
narrow  ring  of  dull  white  around  eye;  under  parts,  dull 
whitish  (pure  white  on  abdomen)  ;  the  chest,  sides,  and 
flanks,  shaded  with  buffy  grayish;  edge  of  wing,  light 


yellow;  iris,  brown.  YouNr, ;  Above,  dull  brownish, 
including  crown ;  the  wing-coverts,  edged  and  tipped 
with  tawny;  beneath  similar,  but  rather  paler,  becoming 
buffy  or  tawny  on  abdomen. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest  ;  In  open  thickets,  or  low 
bushes,  within  three  feet  of  ground ;  constructed  of 
weed  stalks,  grasses,  leaves,  lined  with  fine  grass  and 
hair ;  semi-domed,  being  built  obliquely,  the  upper  rim 
extending  over,  hiding  the  eggs  from  perpendicular 
view.      I'XDS :     4,   plain,   dull   white. 

Distribution. —  Southern  Texas  and  south  through 
nortlieastern  Me.xico. 


There  is  nothing  very  noticeable  about  the 
Texas  Sparrow  and  it  is  a  bird  that  very  few 
Americans  will  ever  see.  Its  plain  olive  and 
brown  colors  do  not  attract  attention,  and  its 
very  restricted  area  within  the  United  .States  will 
never  make  it  a  well-known  bird.  The  genus  to 
which  it  belongs  is  pretty  well  known  all  through 
Mexico  and  Central  America,  and  has  been  called 
the  genus  of  Middle  American  Sparrows.  This 
species   is  the  only  one  of  the  genus  that  has 


crossed  the  Rio  Crande.  The  others  are  jiretty 
well  spread  out  over  Mexico,  and  down  through 
the  Central  American  States  and  Panama. 

The  Texas  Sparrow  is  practically  non-migra- 
tory and  occupies  in  our  area  only  a  small 
triangle  in  southern  Texas.  It  does  not  extend 
much  more  than  three  hundred  miles  up  the  Rio 
Grande  and  about  two  hundred  miles  up  along 
the  Texas  coast.  In  Mexico  it  occupies  an  area 
about  the  same  size  just  across  the  Rio  Grande. 


58 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


Further  south  toward  Vera  Cruz  there  is  a 
variety  that  is  darker  and  has  been  named  the 
Cordova  Sparrow. 

The  Texas  and  Cordova  Sparrows  are  simple 
songsters.  They  frequent  thickets  and  brusli 
fences,  and  place  their  nests  in  thick  buslies  not 
far  from  the  ground.  Their  molts  do  not  make 
any  conspicuous  changes  in  their  appearance.  As 


tlie  males,  females,  and  immature  all  have  very 
much  the  same  appearance,  and  they  live  through- 
out the  year  in  nearly  the  same  places,  there  is 
a  certain  uniformity  and  dullness  in  their  lives 
that  make  this  bird  dififerent  from  most.  Ameri- 
can birds,  among  whom  there  is  something 
remarkable  and  interesting  happening  every 
year; 


TOWHEE 
Pipilo  erythrophthalmus  erythrophthalmus    {LiniKrus) 

A.    n.    U.    Number   5S7       ."^ce   Color    Plate   84 


Other  Names. —  Chewink ;  Towhee-bird ;  Swamp 
Robin;  Bullfinch  (in  Virginia);  Red-eyed  Towhee ; 
Ground  Robin;  Towhee  Bunting;  Jo-ree ;  Marsh 
Robin  ;  Bush-bird  ;  Turkey  Sparrow. 

General  Description. —  Length,  8  inches.  Fore  and 
upper  parts,  black;  under  parts,  white  and  brownish. 
Wings,  rather  short  and  much  rounded ;  tail,  longer 
than  wing,  rounded,  the  feathers  broad  with  compact 
webs  and  rounded  tips ;  feet,  stout. 

Color. —  Adult  Male  ;  Head,  neck,  chest,  and  upper 
parts,  black;  sides  and  flanks,  uniform  cinnamon- 
rufous  ;  anal  region  and  under  tail-coverts,  cinnamon- 
bufTy ;  breast  and  abdomen,  white;  eighth  to  fourth  or 
third  primaries  with  basal  portion  of  outer  webs,  white, 
forming  a  patch  ;  outer  webs  of  wing  feathers,  broadly 
edged  with  white  for  part  of  their  length;  bill,  wholly 
black  in  summer;  iris,  red.  Adult  Female:  Similar 
to  the  adult  male,  but  with  the  black  portions  replaced 
by  brown  (dull  prouts  brown  above,  lighter,  more 
cinnamon-brown  or  raw  umber  on  throat  and  chest). 
Young  Male:  Above,  dull  fulvous-brown,  darker  and 
uniform  on  head,  elsewhere  indistinctly  streaked  with 
dusky;  wings,  dull  black,  the  coverts  edged  with  bufTy 


brown ;  wing  feathers  with  a  broad  lateral  stripe  of 
buffy  whitish;  primaries,  marked  with  white,  as  in  the 
adult;  tail,  as  in  adult  male;  chin  and  throat,  plain  pale 
buff,  with  an  interrupted  blackish  stripe  on  each  side; 
chest,  deeper  buff,  thickly  marked  with  cuneate  and 
arr.iw-Iike  vtreaks  of  dusky;  breast  and  abdomen,  dull 
white. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest  :  On  the  ground,  under  a 
clump  of  grass,  weeds,  or  bushes,  in  deep  woods  or 
open,  first  growth  clearings,  sunk  to  level  of  surface 
and  always  exceptionally  well  concealed ;  construction 
rather  variable,  sometimes  carelessly  made,  at  others 
quite  firm  and  compact ;  made  of  leaves,  twigs,  grass, 
and  vegetable  fibers,  well  lined  with  grass  and  rootlets. 
Eggs  :  4,  white  or  pale  pinkish  white,  thickly  sprinkled 
with  light  chestnut. 

Distribution. —  Eastern  United  States  and  more 
southern  British  provinces  west  to  edge  of  the  Great 
Plains,  in  Manitoba,  North  Dakota,  Kansas,  Oklahoma, 
etc.;  breeding  from  near  the  Gulf  coast,  north  to 
Maine,  Ontario,  Manitoba,  etc. ;  south  in  winter  to 
southern  Florida,  Gulf  coast  in  general,  and  eastern  and 
central  Texas ;   casual  in  New   Brunswick. 


Drawing  by  R.  I.  Brasher 

TOWHEE  I  ;  nat.  size! 
A  skillful  ventriloquist  "who    scratches  like  a  hen  " 


FINCHES 


59 


Botli  of  the  names,  "  Towhee  '  and  "  Che- 
wink,"  by  which  this  bird  is  commonly  known, 
are  intended  to  represent  its  characteristic  call- 
note,  and  the  difference  between  the  soinid  of  the 
two  words  furnishes  an  interesting  illustration  of 
how  differently  two  persons  may  hear  the  same 
syllables.  That  many  ornithologists,  whose  hear- 
ing should  be  very  keen  and  discriminating,  make 
the  syllables  "  tow-bee  "  out  of  the  call  is  shown 
by  the  fact  that  the  American  Ornithologists' 
Union  has  adopted  that  name  for  the  bird.  Yet 
to  many  others  the  call  is  much  more  clearly 
represented  by  the  syllables,  "  che-wink,"  even  to 
the  ;;  and  k.  though  some  bird  students  insist 
that  birds  are  incapable  of  uttering  any  true 
consonant  sound.  At  any  rate,  the  tone  and 
accent  of  the  call  form  a  singular  blend  of  cheer- 
fulness and  inquiry,  albeit  the  quality  is  a  bit 
nasal. 

The  bird's  song,  such  as  it  is,  consists  of  three 
notes,  the  first  two  strongly  accented  and  the 
second  lower  by  several  tones  than  the  first: 
these  followed  by  several  very  rap'dly  uttered 
notes  of  the  same  pitch  — not  a  "  trill."  as  they 
often  are  described,  since  a  trill  is  the  rai^id 
repetition  of  two  notes  of  different  pitch.  There 
have  been  various  efforts  to  reduce  this  song  to 
syllables,  for  example,  Seton's  transliteration, 
chuck-burr,  pil-a-wiJl-a-zi<iU-a-ii'ill,  and  Thoreau's 
rendition,  hip-vou.  Ite-he-hc-hc,  which  gives  a 
close  approximation  to  the  vowel  value  of  the 
syllables. 

Something  strangely  like  the  ventriloquistic 
faculty  seems  to  be  possessed  by  tiot  a  few 
American  birds,  and  probably  many  observers 
have  noticed  that  the  Chewink  apparently  em- 
ploys it  in  a  very  marked  degree,  their  per- 
sistence having  been  taxed  to  the  utmost  to 
locate  a  Chewink  who  sang  at  intervals  of  cver\' 
ten  or  fifteen  seconds  for  several  minutes 
before  he  was  finally  discovered,  usuallv  in  ])lain 
sight  and  not  more  than  twenty-five  or  thirty 
yards  distant. 

This  bird  has  two  other  peculiarities  which 
distinguish  it  from  most  of  its  kind.  r)iie  is  its 
way  of  scratching  on  the  ground,  an  operation  in 
which  it  uses  its  feet  alternately,  after  the  man- 
ner of  the  domesticated  hen.  Indeed,  the  bird 
gets  much  of  its  food  by  this  ground-foraging, 
incidentally  making  a  commotion  among  the  dry 
leaves  which  suggests  the  efforts  of  a  mucii 
larger  bird,  or  of  a  squirrel  or  woodchuck.  .\gain, 
the  Towhee   is   decidedly   unlike   other  birds   in 


its  apparent  nonchalance  when  its  nest  is  ap- 
proached. It  may  be  dangerous  to  infer  that 
this  seeming  indifference  is  deliberately  assumed 
for  the  purpose  of  deceiving  the  intruder,  yet  it 
is  difficult  to  account  for  it  in  any  other  way,  for 
the  bird  betrays  much  solicitude  once  the  nest  is 
actually  discovered. 

The  Cowbird  seems  to  have  a  special  prefer- 
ence for  the  nest  of  the  Towhee  and  seems  to 
choose  the  latter  to  bring  up  her  yoimg  more 
often  than  she  does  any  other  species.  Fre- 
quently two,  three,  and  even  four  Cowbird's  eggs 
have  been  found  in  a  Chewink's  nest,  and  occa- 
sionally five  or  six  have  'oeen  fotind.  In  the 
cases  of  the  larger  numbers  the  nest  has  gen- 
erally been  deserted  as  if  the  Chewinks  felt 
that  their  good  nature  had  Wen  imposed  upon 


■■II     !■!     1  1      II        I 

^^yi 

^^ 

p 

pyg^ 

^ 

m 

i 

1^ 

^ 

Phuto  by  H.  K.  J. lb  Cuurtcsy  ol  i\al.  Ai=..j.  Aud.  boc. 

MALE  TOWHEE  FEEDING   YOUNG 

The  two  with  open  mouths  are  Cowbirds 

too  far.  The  eggs  of  the  two  species  resemble 
each  other,  but  the  Cowbird's  egg  is  more  likely 
to  be  smaller  and  to  lack  the  pinkish  tint  which 
is  a  usual  characteristic  of  the  Towhee's. 

Wild  fruits  of  all  kinds,  from  strawberries  and 
blackberries  to  wild  cherries  and  grapes,  are 
eagerly  eaten  by  the  Towhee.  However,  seeds 
and  insects  are  its  principal  food.  Beetles  and 
their  larv?e,  ants,  moths,  caterpillars,  grasshop- 
j)ers,  flies,  and  earthworms  are  destroyed  by  the 
Towhee.  Although  it  cannot  be  classed  as  a  de- 
cidedly useful  bird,  chiefly  because  of  its  haunts, 
there  are  no  reports  of  its  having  damaged  culti- 
vated crops  or  caused  loss  of  any  kind  to  the 
farmer. 

The  \Miite-eyed  or  Florida  Tovv'hee  (Pipilo 
erythroplitlialiuiis  aheiii)  which  is  found  on 
the  Florida  peninsula,  is  smaller  than  the  com- 
mon Towhee  and  has  much  less  white  on  the 
wings  and  tail  and  its  iris  is  brownish-yellow  or 
vellowish-white  instead  of  carmine-red. 


6o 


BIRDS    OF   AMERICA 


OREGON  TOWHEE 
Pipilo  maculatus  oregonus  Bell 

A.    O.   U.    Number    588b 


Other  Name. —  Spotted  Towhee. 

General  Description. —  Length,  8  inches.  Fore  and 
upper  parts,  black ;  under  parts,  white  and  brownish. 
Wings,  rather  short  and  much  rounded ;  tail,  longer 
than  wing,  rounded,  the  feathers  broad  with  compact 
webs  and  rounded  tips  ;   feet,  stout. 

Color. —  Adult  Male:  Head,  neck,  and  chest,  black, 
the  throat  with  a  white  spot,  and,  very  rarely,  the  back 
of  head  streaked  with  rufous;  upper  parts,  black; 
middle  and  greater  wing-coverts  tipped  with  white, 
forming  two  spots;  three  to  four  outer  tail-feathers 
with  small  terminal  spaces  of  white,  chiefly  on  inner 
webs;  the  outermost  tail-feathers  with  the  outer  web 
edged  with  white ;  breast  and  abdomen,  white ;  sides 
and    flanks,    cinnamon-rufous   occasionally    with    dusky 


spots  or  bars ;  anal  region  and  under  tail-coverts,  paler 
cinnamon-tawny  or  ochraceous  buff;  bill,  black.  Adult 
Female:  Similar  to  adult  male,  but  throat  and  chest 
dark  sooty  brown  or  sooty  black ;  general  color  of 
upper  parts,  dark  sooty  brown. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest  ;  In  ground,  rim  sunk  flush 
with  the  surface,  usually  near  streams  ;  a  strong,  well 
built  structure  of  bark  strips,  grass,  or  pine  needles, 
lined  with  grass.  Eggs:  4  or  S,  very  pale  greenish 
white,  covered  with  spots  and  specks  of  chestnut  and 
lavender. 

Distribution. —  Coast  district  of  southern  British 
Columbia,  Vancouver  Island,  Washington,  Oregon, 
and  California,  south  to  San  Francisco  Bay;  winters 
south  to   southern  California. 


The  group  of  Tovvhees,  known  as  Spotted  To- 
whees,  and  of  which  the  Oregon  Towhee  is  a 
member,  are  found  in  western  United  States  and 
Mexico  among  the  chaparral.  They  are  very 
shy  and  simply  refuse  to  stay  where  they  can  be 
observed;  just  as  you  hear  one  sing  and  catch 
sight  of  him  on  the  top  of  a  bush,  he  sees  you 
and  down  he  drops  to  the  ground  and  starts 
scratching  among  the  leaves  under  the  bushes. 

In  southern  California,  in  the  coast  district,  and 
south  into  Lower  California,  is   found  the  San 


Diego  Towhee  {Pipilo  maculatus  mcgalonyx). 
It  is  a  deep  glossy  black  with  heavy  white  mark- 
ings on  the  wings.  The  Arctic  Towhee  ( Pipilo 
maculatus  arcficus)  has  extensive  white  markings 
on  both  wings  and  tail  and  its  shoulders  are 
heavily  streaked  with  white ;  it  breeds  in  the 
plains  and  among  the  foothills  of  the  Rockies 
from  southern  Alberta  to  west  central  Montana 
and  northwestern  Nebraska  and  winters  from 
eastern  Colorado  and  southern  Nebraska  to 
southern  Texas.     The  Spurred  Towhee  (Pipilo 


Drawing  by  R.  Bruce  Horsfall 


OREGON  TOWHEE  (i  nat.  size) 
A  scratcher  among  the  fallen  leaves 


FINCHES 


6i 


imiciilatiis  iiioiitiDitis),  distributed  from  British 
Cokuiibia  south  into  Mexico  and  from  eastern 
Cahfornia  to  Wyoming,  Colorado,  New  Mexico, 
and  \\'estern  Texas,  and  tiie  San  Clemente  To- 
whee  (PipUo  iiiaciilatiis  clivucut(r),  found  on  the 
San  Clemente  and  other  islands  of  southern  Cali- 
fornia, have  the  white  markings  much  restricted. 
These  Towhees  are  not  numerous  enough  to 
inflict  any  great  damage,  no  matter  what  their 
habits.  Should  thev  become  very  abtmdant  they 
very  likely  would  injure  fruit,  but  they  seem 
so  shy  and  retiring  that  the  more  the  country 
is  cleared  and  put  under  cultivation  the  more 
likely  they  are  to  become  rare. 


About  three-quarters  of  their  food  consists  of 
vegetable  matter.  Fruit  forms  about  i8  per 
cent,  and  is  probably  almost  entirely  wild  or 
waste,  drain  averages  4  ]icr  cent,  for  the  vear 
with  the  largest  amount  eaten  after  the  harvest- 
ing season.  Weed  seed  occupies  the  chief  place 
iin  their  menu  and  forms  nearly  35  per  cent,  of 
their  food  for  the  year. 

.Apparently  these  Towhees  do  not  care  for 
grasshoppers  as  they  form  less  than  2  per  cent. 
of  their  food  for  the  year  and  are  eaten  very 
irregularly.  Weevils,  tree-boring  beetles,  ants, 
wasps,  bees,  and  the  black  olive  scale  make  up 
most  of  their  animal  food. 


CANON  TOWHEE 
Pipilo  fuscus  mesoleucus  Baird 


A.   O.   U. 

Other  Names. —  Fuscous  Towhee ;  Brown  Chippy; 
Canon   liuntnig. 

General  Description, —  Length,  9,':!  inches.  Upiier 
parts,  brown ;  under  parts,  white,  brown,  and  black. 
Wings,  rather  short  and  much  rounded ;  tail,  longer 
than  wing,  rounded,  the  feathers  broad  with  compact 
webs  and  rounded  tips ;   feet,  stout. 

Color. — Adults  :  Above,  hair-brown  or  pale  grayish 
sepia-brown,  the  crown  distinctly  ruddy,  inclining  to 
cinnamon ;  middle  and  greater  wing-coverts  and  upper 
tail-coverts,  usually  narrowly  and  indistinctly  tipped 
with  paler ;  wings  and  tail-feathers  with  the  general 
color  darker,  clearer,  and  less  brown  than  other  por- 
tions; side  of  head,  mainly  colored  like  back,  etc.,  but 
with  pale  buffy  or  dull  whitish  markings  ;  cheek  region, 
chin,  and  throat,  pinkisli  buff  ( deejier  in  winter,  paler 
in  summer  i)iumage),  tlie  first  flecked  with  dusky,  the 


nearly  (sometimes  quite)  immaculate  throat  area  sur- 
rounded by  rather  large  triangular  spots  or  streaks 
of  black;  center  portion  of  breast  and  abdomen,  white; 
sides  of  breast,  sides,  and  flanks,  brown  (paler  than 
back)  ;  anal  regions  and  under  tail-coverts,  cinnamon 
or  cinnamon-tawny  ;  iris,  brown. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest:  Located  in  thickets  or 
small  mesquite  trees,  near  ground,  usually  within  10 
feet,  sometimes  in  dense  clumps  of  cholla  or  between 
yucca  leaves ;  deep,  large,  but  loosely  constructed  of 
coarse  .grass,  lined  with  fine  roots  and  horse-  or  cow- 
hair.  Eggs  :  3,  speckled,  scratched  and  scrawled  with 
brown,  black,  or  lavender. 

Distribution. —  Arid  districts  of  Arizona,  southern 
and  eastern  New  Mexico,  western  Texas,  eastern 
Colorado,  and  southwestern  Colorado,  south  to  north- 
eastern Sonora  and  northwestern  Chihuahua. 


The  Canon  or  Fuscous  Tcnvhees  form  a  numer- 
ous species  that  is  distinguished  by  their  fluiTy 
brown  Sparrow-like  appearance.  To  the  Fast- 
erner  there  seems  to  be  less  of  the  Towhee  and 
more  of  the  brown  Sparrow  about  this  common 
dooryard  friend  of  the  southwest.  It  is  often 
called  the  Brown  Chippy  from  the  very  j^ersist- 
ence  of  the  loud  metallic  chip,  whether  heard  in 
the  streets  of  towns  or  out  in  the  dense  chaparral 
and  scrub  bushes  that  line  the  mountain  canons. 
The  flight  song  is  a  Robin-like  scrcep'-ecp-eep, 
and  it  has  another  squeaky  but  quiet  and  con- 
tented song.  In  the  canons  at  dusk  a  dozen  or 
more  of  the  Canon  Towhees  sing  this  song  in 
concert  and  the  effect  is  like  an  evening  hymn 
in  a  temple  to  nature's  God. 

There  are  many  varieties  of  the  Fuscous  Tow- 


hee. The  typical  one  is  the  Brown  Towhee  of 
the  Pacific  slope  of  central  Mexico.  Throughout 
California  the  variety  is  there  known  as  the 
California  Towhee  or  Crissal  Bunting  (Pipilo 
crissalis  crissalis) ,  the  main  distinction  appearing 
to  be  a  deeper  colored  head  than  the  more  east- 
ern bird.  Ridgway  has  seen  enough  dififerences 
in  them  to  make  the  California  Towhee  a  sepa- 
rate species,  but  Mrs.  Bailey  prefers  to  know 
them  as  mere  varieties  of  the  Fuscous  Towhee. 
The  Anthony  Towhee  (Pipilo  crissalis  scnicula) 
of  southern  California  is  surely  but  a  variety  of 
the  California,  having  darker  upper  parts  and 
grayer  lower  parts. 

\Micrever  foimd,  the  Fuscous  Towhee  has  no 
fear  of  man,  and  when  the  breeding  season  comes 
the  gloomy  canons  resound  with  his  songs. 


62 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


ABERT'S  TOWHEE 
Pipilo  aberti  Baird 

A.    O.   U.    Number  59J 


Other  Name. —  Gray  Towhee. 

General  Description. —  Length,  g'/z  inches.  Upper 
parts,  brown ;  nndcr  parts,  brown  and  yellowish. 
Wings,  rather  short  and  much  rounded ;  tail,  longer 
than  wing,  rounded,  the  feathers  broad  with  compact 
webs  and  rounded  tips  ;   feet,  stout. 

Color. —  Adults:  Above,  uniform  rather  light 
brown,  becoming  rather  darker  and  somewhat  grayer 
on  wings  and  tail,  the  primaries  edged  with  pale  brown- 
ish gray ;  beneath,  pale  wood-brown,  paler  on  breast, 
deeper  and  tinged  with  reddish  cinnamon  on  throat 
and  chest,  the  lower  abdomen  yellowish-bufify,  the  under 
tail-coverts  still  deeper,  or  reddish  tawny ;  chin  and 
throat,  streaked  with  dusky.  Young  :  Above,  olive- 
grayish    streaked    with    dusky :    under    parts,    grayish- 


white  streaked  on  sides  and  chest  with  dusky;  win.gs 
and  tail  similar  to  adults. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest  :  Usually,  in  dense  chaparral 
thickets,  willow,  canebrake  or  mesquite  clumps  near 
streams,  within  five  feet  of  ground,  rarely  in  trees 
thirty  feet  up ;  rather  large,  carelessly  made  of  bark 
strips,  weed  stalks,  grass,  twigs,  lined  with  fine  inner 
bark  or  horse-hair.  Eggs  :  2  to  4,  pale  blue,  thinly 
marked  or  spotted  around  large  end,  sometimes  over 
the  entire  surface,  with  dark  umber-brown  and 
black. 

Distribution. — Arid  division  of  Arizona,  southern 
Nevada  (bend  of  Colorado  River),  southwestern  Utah, 
northwestern  New  Mexico  and  southeastern  California; 
south  in  winter  to  northern  Lower  California. 


Despite  the  fact  that  the  Abert's  Towhee  is 
the  largest  of  the  plain  Towhees  he  is  extremely 
shy.     He  lives  among  the  mesquites  and  cotton- 


woods  of  the  desert  region  of  Arizona,  New 
Mexico,  and  southeastern  California.  His  note 
of  alarm  is  hnit  hnit  according  to  Bendire. 


GREEN-TAILED  TOWHEE 
Oreospiza  chlorura   (Audubon) 


A     (>,    V.    Ni: 

Other  Names. —  Chestnut-crowned  Towhee  ;  Green- 
tailed  Bunting;  Blanding's  Finch. 

General  Description. —  Length,  8  inches.  Upper 
parts,  greenish ;  under  parts,  white  and  gray.  Bill, 
small ;  wings,  long  and  pointed ;  tail,  long,  equal  to  or 
longer  than  wing,  rounded. 

Color. —  Adults:  Crown  and  back  of  head,  plain 
rufous  or  cinnamon-rufous;  forehead  and  sides  of  head, 
deep  gray  or  olive-gray ;  hindneck,  back,  shoulders, 
rump,  and  upper  tail-coverts,  olive-grayish  tinged  with 
yellowish  olive-green ;  wings  and  tail,  mainly  yellowish 
olive-green,  the  greater  wing-coverts  and  inner  wing- 
quills,  duller  and  grayer;  edge  of  wing,  canary-yellow; 
chin  and  throat,  white  forming  a  sharply  defined  patch ; 
chest,  sides  of  neck,  and  sides  of  breast,  gray  becoming 
gradually  paler  on  breast ;  the  abdomen,  white ;  sides 
and  flanks,  bufify  grayish ;  under  tail-coverts,  light  bufif ; 
iris,  cinnamon  or  reddish.     Young:     Crown,  hindneck, 


back,  and  shoulders  light  olive  or  grayish  brown, 
streaked  with  dusky ;  under  parts  dull  whitish,  the  chest 
and  sides  streaked  with  dusky ;  wings  and  tail  as  in 
adults,  but  middle  and  greater  wing-coverts  indistinctly 
tipped  with  brownish  butTy. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Xest;  Placed  in  bush,  amid 
shrubbery  or  on  ground,  sagebrush,  chaparral,  mesquite, 
or  cactus  preferred;  constructed  of  fine  twigs,  grass, 
shreds  of  bark,  lined  with  fine  grass.  Eggs:  4,  white, 
pale  greenish  or  grayish  white,  freckled  all  over  with 
fine  specks   of  bright  chestnut. 

Distribution. —  Mountain  districts  of  western  United 
States,  from  more  eastern  Rocky  Mountain  ranges  to 
Coast  range  of  California;  north  to  central  Montana 
and  Idaho  and  eastern  Washington ;  south  to  southern 
California,  southeastern  New  Mexico,  western  Texas, 
and,  at  least  in  winter,  to  middle  Mexico,  and  to  south- 
ern Lower  California;  accidental  in  \'irginia. 


The  Green-tailed  Towhee  is  a  beautiful  bird 
with  a  soft  glossy  coat  touched  off  with  yellowish 
green  and  his  manners  are  so  gentlemanly  that 
he  quickly  wins  his  way  to  our  hearts.  "  He 
may  generally  be  found  perched  on  top  of  a 
btish  and  at  sight  of  you  will  raise  his  rufous 
cap  inquiringly,  turning  to  look  down  so  that  his 
white  chin  shows  to  advantage.  When  seen 
hopping  over  the  grotmd  he  is  as  trim  as  a  Song 


.Sj)arrow,  looking  about  and  flashing  his  green 
tail  till  he  disappears  to  scratch  in  the  brush." 
(Mrs.  Bailey.) 

This  Towhee  has  the  peculiar  trait  of  rtuining 
along  the  grotmd  when  he  is  surprised  instead 
of  taking  wing.  His  song  has  many  of  the 
characteristics  of  Finch  songs  but  is  phrased  like 
that  of  the  Caiion  Towhee.  His  call  note  is 
very  similar  to  that  of  the  Chewink. 


FINCHES 


63 


CARDINAL 
Cardinalis   cardinalis   cardinalis    (LiinurHs) 


Other  Names. —  Cardinal  Groslieak ;  Redbird ; 
Crested  Redliird ;  Virginia  Redbird;  Virginia  Nightin- 
gale; Virginia  Cardinal;  Kentucky  Cardinal;  Cardinal 
Bird. 

General  Description. —  Length,  8^4  inches.  Male, 
red;  female,  partly  red,  giving  an  appearance  of  being 
faded.  Bill,  stout;  wings,  short  and  rounded;  tail, 
longer  than  wing,  slightly  rounded;  head  with  con- 
spicuous crest. 

Color. —  Adult  M.\le:  Front  portion  of  forehead, 
front  part  of  cheek  region,  chin,  and  throat,  black, 
forming  a  conspicuous  cap  entirely  surrounding  the  bill ; 
rest  of  head,  vermilion-red,  duller  on  crown  { includ- 
ing crest)  ;  under  parts,  pure  vermilion-red  becoming 
slightly  paler  posteriorly,  the  flanks  slightly  tinged  with 
grayish ;  hindneck,  back,  shoulders,  rutnp,  and  upper 
tail-coverts,  dull  vermilion-red ;  wings  and  tail,  dull 
red;  bill,  red-orange;  iris,  deep  brown.  Adult  Female: 
Wings  and  tail,  much  as  in  the  male,  but  the  red  duller ; 
red  of  head  and  body  replaced  above  by  plain  grayish 
olive  or  buffy  grayish,  the  crest  partly  dull  red,  below 


by  pale  fulvous  or  buffy  (nearly  white  on  abdomen), 
the  chest  often  tinged  or  mixed  with  red;  head,  dull 
grayish,  sometimes  nearly  white  on  throat. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest:  Located  in  thickets  of 
brambles  or  grapevines  or  low  saplings ;  a  carelessly 
constructed,  loosely  put  together  afi^air  of  small  twigs, 
strips  of  bark,  weed  stems,  grass,  lined  with  fine  root- 
lets, and  horse-hair.  Eggs:  2  to  4,  white,  bluish,  or 
greenish  white  marked  with  shades  of  chestnut,  purple, 
and  brown,  usually  scattered  over  entire  surface. 

Distribution. —  Eastern  United  States  ;  north,  regu- 
larly and  breeding  to  southeastern  New  York,  lower 
districts  of  eastern  Pennsylvania,  western  Pennsyl- 
vania, northeastern  Ohio,  northern  Indiana,  southern 
Iowa,  etc.,  casually  or  irregularly  to  Connecticut,  Mas- 
sachusetts, Maine,  Nova  Scotia,  southern  Ontario, 
southern  Michigan,  southern  Wisconsin,  and  Minne- 
sota; west  to  edge  of  Great  Plains,  casually  to  eastern 
Colorado ;  south  to  Georgia,  Alabama,  and  upland 
region  of  Gulf  States;  Bermudas  (introduced  and 
naturalized). 


The  flash  of  red  that  comes  to  view  and  dis- 
appears in  otlier  trees  is  generally  the  Cardinal. 
There  are  other  red  birds,  btit  none  that  frequent 
the  stately  Southern  elms  and  other  large 
roadside  trees  as  docs  this  most  attractive 
S])arro\v. 

All  through  the  Southern  plantation  country 
this  is  the  bird  that  typifies  everything  that  is 
elegant  and  chivalric  not  only  to  the  colored  cot- 
ton pickers  and  plantation  laborers,  but  to  the 
country  gentlemen.  Novels  have  been  written  in 
which  the  Virginia  Cardinal  and  the  Kentuckv 
Cardinal  and  the  Carolina  Cardinal  have  given 
a  tone  of  aristocratic  elegance  to  the  plots.  The 
bird  is  indeed  a  fine  specimen  of  bird  character, 
whether  found  on  a  .Southern  plantation,  or  at 
its  northeastern  limit  in  Central  Park,  New  York 
city,  or  at  its  western  limit  in  the  dingv  chaparral 
of  southern  Arizona. 

The  bird  is  ever  cheerful  and  active  and  indus- 
trious. The  young  are  cared  for  eagerly  bv  the 
male  while  the  female  is  sitting  on  a  second  lav- 
ing of  eggs.  Nothing  daunts  the  male  in  his 
care  of  the  young  that  he  leads  out  upon  the 
lawns  and  berry  fields.  The  search  for  food,  the 
scent  of  danger,  and  the  warnings  given  to 
the  heedless  yottng  are  common  observations 
made  by  people  who  are  attracted  to  them. 

The  attention  the  male  gives  his  mate  is  very 
noticeable.  He  is  never  fearful  to  fiv  about 
Vol..  III. —6 


looking  after  the  nest  or  leading  her  to  some 
favored  food  or  singing  to  her  from  far  up  in 
the  tallest  tree  while  she  is  bu.sy  at  her  toilet 
down  by  the  brook  in  the  vallev.  And  fre- 
quently  she   will  answer   in   a   lower   note    that 


A  flash  of  red,  coming  to  view  one  moment,  and  disappearing 


the  next 


brings  from  him  a  quick  response.  There  is  a 
remarkable  charm  in  the  Cardinal  that  brings 
words  of  enthusiasm  from  all  who  have  lived  in 


64 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


the    country    with    liim    and    have    watched    his 
gracious  ways. 

His  call  is  a  rich  and  rounded  ciic-ciic  that 
penetrates  the  grove  and  often  hrint^^s  an  answer- 
ing CIIC-CIIC  from  another  1)ird  far  away.  The 
rapid  liip-ip-ip-ip-ip'ip-ij\  uttered  without  any 
loss  of  [)Ower  at  the  end.  rings  out  clear  from 
the  tops  of  the  trees  and  seems  to  rouse  the 
echoes.    Then  there  is  the  long  drawn  out  c-ccc, 


rllulu  by  II.  T.  MidillLauii 

YOUNG  CARDINAL 

and  the  cheer,  cheer,  cheer  that  makes  one  feel 
a  joy  in  having  such  a  bird  in  the  neighborhood. 
Ridgway  has  listed  about  a  dozen  varieties  of 
the  Cardinal  but  they  are  mostly  in  Mexico. 
Only  the  Florida  {Cardinalis  cardinalis  flori- 
daiiiis)  and  Arizona  (Cardinalis  cardinalis  siipcr- 
hiis)  and  the  Gray-tailed  (Cardinalis  cardinalis 
caiiicaiidiis)  occupy  small  areas  adjacent  to  the 


great  areas  of  the  true  Cardinalis  east  of  Texas 
and  south  of  the  Hudson  and  the  Great  Lakes. 
The  Gray-tailed  Cardinal  is  but  one  of  the  Mexi- 
can varieties  that  extends  up  into  Texas.  But 
wherever  found  the  Cardinal  is  a  rare  sight. 
Many  persons  have  become  much  interested  in 
all  birds  by  being  first  interested  in  the  Cardinal. 
Some  have  called  him  an  FFV  ( member  of  one 
of  the  first  families  of  Virginia).  Better  yet,  he 
is  an  FF  of  America.       L.  Nelson  Nichols. 

It  has  been  claimed  that  the  Cardinal  pulls 
sprouting  grain,  but  no  evidence  of  damage  to 
cither  grain  or  other  crops  is  afforded  by  the 
examination  of  more  than  500  stomachs.  On 
the  other  hand,  the  evidence  is  ample  that  he 
does  much  good.  The  Redbird  is  known  to  feed 
on  the  Rocky  Mountain  locust,  periodical  cicada, 
and  Colorado  potato  beetle.  It  is  a  great  enemy 
also  to  the  rose  chafer,  cotton  worm,  plum  or 
cherry  scale,  and  other  scale  insects,  and  attacks 
many  other  important  insect  pests,  including  the 
zebra  caterpillar  of  the  cabbage,  the  cucumber 
beetles,  billbugs,  locust  flea-beetle,  corn-ear  worm, 
cotton  cutworm,  southern  fig-eater,  codling 
moth,  and  boll  weevil.  In  addition,  it  consumes 
a  great  many  seeds  of  injurious  weeds.  Thus 
its  food  habits  entitle  the  bird  to  our  esteem,  as 
its  brilliant  coat  and  spirited  song  compel  our 
admiration. 


ARIZONA  PYRRHULOXIA 

Pyrrhuloxia  sinuata  sinuata  (  Bonaparte) 

A,    O.    l\    Number    S94 


Other  Names. —  P.ullfnich  ;  Rullfjiich  Cardinal ;  (jray 
Griisheak  :  ("itay  Cardinal;   Parrot-bill. 

General  Description. —  Length,  9  inches.  Phimasie. 
.grayish,  with  red  crest  and  tail.  Rill,  short,  thick,  and 
strongly  curved;  wings,  short  and  nnich  rounded;  tail, 
decidedly  longer  than  wing,  rounded. 

Color. — .^I)UI.T  Male:  .'Vbove,  brownish  gray  or 
grayisli  Iiair-brown  becoming  purer  gray  (between 
drab-gray  and  smoke  gray)  on  head  and  neck;  all  the 
wing-feathers  with  concealed  bases,  dusky  red;  outer 
webs  of  primaries  and  primary  coverts,  mostly  dull  red; 
middle  tail-feathers,  dusky  brownish  becoming  dark 
dull  reddish  in  the  center  and  edged  with  brownish 
gray;  rest  of  tail-feathers,  dull  red  becoming  dusky 
brownish  at  the  ends,  the  shafts  of  all,  black  on  upper 
surface;  longer  feathers  of  crest,  dull  red;  forehead, 
chin,  thrnal.  and  other  center  lower  parts,  thighs,  and 
most  of  un<U'r  side  of  wing,  f^urc  red  (geranium-red  to 


poppy-red),  the  lores  and  eye  region,  duller  red;  sides 
of  under  parts,  light  brownish  gray,  paler  and  tinged 
with  bufify  posteriorly;  bill,  yellowish  in  summer,  horn 
colored  in  winter;  iris,  Ijrown.  Adult  Female: 
.Similar  to  adult  male,  but  lacking  the  red  of  face  and 
center  under  parts  (or  with  it  but  slightly  indicated), 
the  general  color  of  the  under  parts  of  a  decided 
bufTy  hue;  bill,  yellow  in  summer,  grayish  brown  in 
winter. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest:  In  mesquite.  or  thorny 
thickets;  resembles  that  of  t!ie  Cardinal  Init  more  com- 
pactly put  together  and  smaller;  made  of  bark  strips, 
twigs,  grass,  lined  with  small  roots.  Eccs :  3.  pale 
bluish  white  spotted  with  difTerent  shades  of  brown  and 
lavender,  wreathed  around  large  end. 

Distribution. —  Northwestern  Mexico  ;  southern  por- 
tions of  Arizona,  southwestern  New  Mexico,  and  ex- 
treme western  part  of  Texas. 


Court.'Sy  of    th.i  Nuw  Yirk  Sl;.t.'  Mus.'un 


Piatt 


ROSC-BREASTED  GROSBEAK    Xnmrl,,,!,,,  hul.nirmna  (I.mri;i<;u.f) 

CARDINAL    r,,;-,/,,,,,/,,.  nirilumliH  mulinali:<  ( Lm-Kfcus) 

FEMALE 

All  I  „,U.  size  '""-' 


FINCHES 


65 


The  Pyrrhuloxia  belongs  to  the  Cardinal  group 
of  Finches.  Their  habits  are  those  of  the  Cardi- 
nal, but  the  area  in  which  they  are  found  is  but 
a  small  part  of  the  country  in  which  the  true 
Cardinals  live.  The  I'yrrliuloxia  country  is  con- 
linecl  to  the  hot  upland  areas  uf  the  northern 
jjlateau  of  Mexico,  and  the  adjacent  parts  of 
Arizona,  New  Mexico,  and  Texas. 

Some  suppose  the  Pvrrhuloxia  to  be  more 
"  shy  and  suspicious  "  than  the  Cardinal.  Rut 
the  experience  of  William  L.  and  Irene  Finlcy 
in  photographing  a  Pyrrhuloxia  on  the  nest,  as 
reported  in  Bird-Lore,  is  rather  the  reverse, 
showing  that  the  bird  has  about  the  same  confi- 
dence in  human  surroundings  as  has  the  Cardi- 
nal. The  Cardinal  traits  have  been  so  noticeable 
that  the  bird  has  often  been  known  as  the  Gray 
Cardinal.  The  differences  are  also  conspicuous. 
Instead  of  the  cue  note  of  the  Cardinal,  the 
mesquite  is  musical  with  his  clear,  cheerful 
whistling. 

The  red  crest  is  the  most  characteristic  feature 
of  the  Pyrrhuloxia.  Every  change  of  mood  in 
the  bird  is  not  only  shown  but  exaggerated  by  the 
quick  up  and- down  motions  of  the  crest  feathers. 
I'rom  listlessness  to  alertness,  and  from  curiosity 
to  ennui  are  the  changes  of  a  second.  These 
changes  are  rapid  and  occur  many  scores  of 
times  every  hour. 

The  eastern  variety  is  called  the  Texas  Pyr- 
rhuloxia (Pyrrhuloxia  sinnata  tcxana)  and  has 
the  ring  around  the  bill  conspicuously  marked 
with  black.  From  El  Paso  west  into  southern 
Arizona  the  variety  is  known  as  the  Arizona 
Pyrrhuloxia.  It  is  a  very  fancy  name,  but  it 
will  remain,  for  it  is  a  very  fancy  bird. 

Like  the  Blue  Grosbeak  the  Arizona  Pvrrhu- 
loxia is  more  fond  of  caterpillars  and  grass- 
hoppers than  of  other  insects.    Weevils  are  next 


in  order  of  ])reference.  The  Parrot-bill  ranges 
over  much  of  the  cotton  belt  of  Texas  and  feeds 
u|)on  two  im])ortant  cotton  pests,  one  of  which  — 
the  boll  weevil  —  is  one  of  our  most  destructive 


Drawing  by  R.  I.  Brasher 

PYRRHULOXIA  ( ;  nat.  size) 
A  fine  whistler,  with  a  red  waistcoat  and  a  very  dandified  air 

insects.  Cotton  worms  are  highly  relished,  as 
many  as  eighteen  having  been  found  in  a  single 
stomach.  In  August  and  September  seven-tenths 
of  the  Gray  Grosbeak's  food  is  weed  seed,  five- 
tenths  consisting  exclusively  of  the  seeds  of  two 
of  the  most  imjjortant  weeds  of  the  South, 
namely,  fo.xtail  and  burr  grass.  So  far  as  known, 
the  Gray  Grosbeak  eats  practically  no  beneficial 
insect  and  damages  no  crop.  This,  in  addition 
to  the  fact  that  it  feeds  upon  noxious  weed  and 
insect  pests,  entitles  it  to  complete  protection. 


ROSE-BREASTED  GROSBEAK 
Zamelodia  ludoviciana   (  Liniucits) 


A.    O.    U,    Number   S5 

Other  Names.—  Potato-bug  Bird :  Common  Gros- 
beak :  Summer  Grosbeak ;  Rose-breast. 

General  Description. —  Length.  814  inches.  Fore 
and  upper  parts,  black  or  blackish-brown  ;  under  parts, 
red  and  white.  Bill,  heavy  and  short ;  wings,  long  and 
pointed;  tail,  more  than  %  length  of  wing,  even  or 
sbghtly  rounded,  the  feathers  broad  anrl  rounded  at 
the  ends. 

Color. — Adult  M.m.k  in  Summer:    Head,  neck,  back, 


See  Color   Plate  85 

and  shoulders,  uniform  black;  wings,  black  relieved  by 
a  large  patch  of  white  on  basal  portion  of  primaries, 
white  spots  at  tips  of  innermost  greater  coverts  and 
inner  wing-quills,  and  a  broad  white  band  coinposed  of 
the  middle  coverts  ;  upper  tail-coverts,  black  with  large 
terminal  spots  of  white;  tail,  black  with  inner  webs  of 
three  outermost  tail-feathers  white  at  the  ends;  chest, 
center  portion  of  breast,  and  under  zcing-coTerts.  rose 
red    or   lii]ht    carmine;    rest    of   under   parts    of   body. 


66 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


ivliitc.  the  rump,  also  white;  iris,  brown.  Adult  Male 
IN  Winter:  Wings,  tail,  and  upper  tail-coverts  as  in 
summer ;  head,  neck,  back,  and  shoulders,  brown 
streaked  with  black,  color  of  head  relieved  by  a  center 
crown-stripe,  a  stripe  over  eye.  and  a  cheek  stripe  of 
pale  buffy  or  buiify  whitish ;  under  parts,  brownish 
white,  the  chest,  sides,  and  flanks  streaked  with  dusky, 
the  first  tinged  or  sufifused  with  rose-red  or  rose-pink. 
Young  M.\le  in  First  Winter:  Similar  to  the  adult 
male  in  winter,  but  wings,  upper  tail-coverts,  and  tail, 
grayish  brown,  instead  of  black,  the  last  without  any 
white,  the  first  with  the  white  markings  much  reduced 
and  tinged  with  brown ;  back  and  shoulders,  more  uni- 
formly brown ;  chest,  sides,  and  flanks,  more  deeply 
fulvous  and  more  heavily  streaked,  the  first  with  little, 
if  any,  red  or  pink;  under  wing-coverts  and  axillaries, 
rose-pink.  Adults  Female  (Summer  and  Winter): 
Much   like   the   young   male,   but   wing-coverts    yellow. 


Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest:  In  low  trees  and  bushes, 
sometimes  on  such  slender  branches  that  the  eggs  roll 
out  when  the  support  is  bent  by  a  strong  breeze ;  a  flat, 
rather  carelessly  made  saucer-shaped  structure  of  small 
twigs,  wiry  rootlets,  and  grass.  Eggs  :  3  to  5,  greenish 
blue,  spotted  and  blotched  over  entire  surface  with 
chestnut  and  shades  of  brown. 

Distribution. —  Eastern  United  States  and  more 
southern  British  provinces,  from  Atlantic  coast  to  edge 
of  the  Great  Plains  (eastern  Kansas  to  Manitoba)  ; 
breeding  from  New  Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  northern 
Ohio,  northern  Indiana,  northern  Illinois,  Iowa,  and 
eastern  Kansas,  north  to  Manitoba.  Ontario,  Nova 
Scotia,  etc.,  and  south  along  the  Allegheny  Mountains 
to  western  North  Carolina  (3500  to  5000  feet)  ;  in 
winter  south  to  Bahamas,  Cuba,  Jamaica,  and  through 
Mexico  and  Central  America  to  western  Ecuador ; 
casual  in  Bermudas. 


There  is  no  bird  in  our  eastern  American  avi- 
fauna that  is  better  worth  an  acquaintance  than 
the  Rose-breasted  Grosbeak.  .Some  birds  force 
themselves  upon  our  attention ;  we  have  to  go 
to  find  the  Rose-breast  for  he  is  nowhere  com- 


mon. .Some  birds  have  commonplace  voices,  but 
the  Rose-breast  lias  a  rich  and  mellow  voice 
that  rings  out  with  abundant  vitality  in  the  bush 
lot  at  the  edge  of  the  forest  or  across  the  bushy 
swamp.    Many  birds  seem  to  ask  for  exaggerated 


ROSE-BREASTED  GROSBEAK  (s  nat   size) 

He  is  an  efficient,  resourceful,  and  virile  American 

Drawing  by  R.  I.  Brasher 


FINCHES 


67 


description  because  of  their  extraordinary 
beauty.  The  Rose-breast  is  a  handsome  bird  in 
his  black  and  white  and  rose,  much  handsomer 
than  most  Finches,  but  not  so  beautiful  as  to 
distract  the  observer  from  the  life  and  habits  of 
the  bird.  And  this,  the  character  of  the  bird,  is 
the  finest  thing  about  him. 

Almost  all  observers  are  impressed  witli  the 
vital  wholesomeness  of  this  Grosbeak.  He  is 
seldom  nervous  and  seldom  allows  trivial  things 
to  disturb  him.  He  acts  with  dignity  and  yet 
with  a  quickness  and  precision  and  quiet  force- 
fulness  that  are  almost  ideal.  As  a  caged  bird 
he  puts  up  with  what  he  has  to  and  makes  the 
most  of  what  he  has.  He  is  a  very  clean  bird. 
The  nest  is  always  clean.  Wherever  he  goes  he 
makes  no  litter,  and  whatever  he  breaks  up  for 
food  is  never  scattered,  but  the  remnants  remain 
in  small  inconspicuous  piles.  It  w^iiuld  almost 
seem  as  though  the  bird  had  a  conscience,  and 
knew  what  it  was  tn  be  a  gentleman. 

Cardinal-like,  the  male  has  a  great  attachment 
for  his  mate  while  she  is  at  the  nest.  He  has 
been  seen  standing  a  few  feet  away  as  though 
glad  to  be  in  her  company.  Sometimes  he  will 
sing  for  her  for  a  long  time  in  a  nearby  tree. 
And  someone  has  said  that  he  has  carried  potato 
bugs  to  feed  her  on  the  nest.  \Mien  the  young 
have  left  the  nest  his  presence  with  them  i'^  very 
noticeable.  Generally  silent  during  these  Ini^y 
weeks,  he  seems  to  be  the  embodiment  of  gmid 
cheer,  happier,  indeed,  it  would  seem  than  the 
scared  youngsters  that  watch  his  everv  action 
as  though  only  in  him  could  they  feel  any  safeti.' 
in  this  blood-thirst\-  world. 

Whoever  cares  to  know  this  really  high-class 
American  must  go  out  to  his  distant  haunts.  One 
might  happen  to  see  him  high  up  in  an  elm  that 
shades  the  highway,  or  quietly  purloining  the 
farmer's  crop  of  potato  bugs,  or  flying  sturdily 
beside  a  country  road  "  going  somewhere,"  never 
flying  for  the  sake  of  flying  as  do  most  of  the 
nervous  birds.  Make  a  special  journey  to  the 
wood  lot  where  he  lives  and  spend  a  morning  in 
his  company.  You  will  go  home  with  the  feel- 
ing of  having  met  one  of  the  best  types  of 
efficient,  resourceful,  and  virile  Americans. 

L.  Nelson  Nichols. 

The  Rose-breasted  Grosbeak  is  held  in  high 
esteem  because  of  his  habit  of  preving  upon  the 
Colorado  potato-bug.  At  least  one-tenth  of  his 
food  is  made  up  of  these  potato-eating  beetles. 
He  is  almost  the  only  bird  to  feed  upon  these 
pests ;  he  not  only  eats  the  adults  but  also  con- 
sumes the  larva"  and  feeds  a  great  manv  to  the 


nestlings.  Cucumber  beetles,  canker  worms,  tent 
caterpillars,  army  worms,  cutworms,  chinch  bugs 
are  all  greedily  sought  for. 

The  vegetable  food  of  this  Grosbeak  consists 
of  buds  and  blossoms  of  forest  trees  and  seeds. 
He  is  accused  of  injuring  orchards  by  eating  the 
blossoms  and  the  fruit  and  of  eating  green  peas. 
He  does  do  both  of  these  things,  but  the  little 
damage  he  does  in  this  way  is  more  than  off-set 
by  his  raids  on  the  potato-bug.  Mr.  Real  ex- 
amined the  stomachs  of  some  Rose-breasted 
Grosbeak's  which  liafl  been  killed  in  the  vcrv  act 


Ph..lu  b>  .^.  A.  --^u 
ROSE-BREASTED  GROSBEAK,  HER  NEST,  AND  EGGS 

of  eating  peas,  ile  found  a  few  peas,  but  there 
were  more  than  enough  potato-bugs  to  pay  for 
all  the  peas  the  birds  would  have  been  likely  to 
eat  for  a  whole  season.  The  garden  where  this 
took  place  adjoined  a  small  potato  field  which 
earlier  in  the  season  had  been  so  badly  infested 
with  beetles  that  the  vines  were  completely 
riddled.  Every  day  the  Grosbeaks  had  visited  the 
field  and  after  the  young  left  the  nests  they 
accompanied  their  parents.  The  babes  stood  in 
a  row  on  the  topmost  rail  of  the  fence  and  were 
fed  with  the  beetles  by  the  old  birds.  A  careful 
inspection  was  made  a  few  days  later  but  not  a 
single  potato-bug  remained ;  the  birds  had  saved 
tlie  potatoes. 


68 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


BLACK-HEADED  GROSBEAK 
Zamelodia  melanocephala  {S-iVainson) 

A.    O.   U.    Number  59S 


Other  Names. —  Western  Grosbeak  ;  Black-head. 

General  Description. —  Length,  8J^4  inches.  Upper 
parts,  black  and  tawny ;  under  parts,  buffy-cinnamon 
and  lemon-yellow.  Bill,  heavy  and  short ;  wings,  long 
and  pointed;  tail,  more  than  ^4  length  of  wing,  even  or 
slightly  rounded,  the  feathers  broad  and  rounded  at  the 
ends. 

Color. — -Adult  Male:  Head,  black,  the  throat 
light  cinnamon-ocher  or  tawny;  wings,  upper  tail- 
coverts,  and  tail,  black,  the  first  varied  by  a  broad 
band  of  white  including  the  middle  coverts,  a  large 
white  patch  on  basal  portion  of  primaries,  and  white 
spots  at  tips  of  greater  coverts  and  inner  wing  feathers, 
the  last  by  large  white  spaces  on  terminal  portion  of 
inner  webs  of  two  to  three  outermost  tail-feathers ; 
upper  tail-coverts  with  white  terminal  spots ;  collar 
across  hindneck,  throat,  chest,  breast,  sides,  flanks,  and 
rump,  uniform  bufTy-cinnamon  or  tawny;  abdomen  and 
under  iving-coverts,  clear  lenion-yeltozi.';  anal  region 
and  under  tail-coverts,  white ;  shoulders,  black  cen- 
trally, edged  or  margined  with  light  tawny  or  cinnamon- 


buffy ;  iris,  dark  brown.  Adult  Female  :  Above, 
dusky  grayish  brown  or  olive,  streaked,  especially  on 
back  and  along  center  line  of  crown,  with  pale  tawny, 
buffy.  or  whitish ;  wings  and  tail,  grayish  brown,  with 
white  marking  much  more  restricted  than  in  adult 
males,  those  on  tail  nearly  if  not  quite  obsolete;  chin, 
sides  of  throat,  cheek  region,  and  a  stripe  over  the 
eyes,  whitish ;  chest,  pale  fulvous,  cinnamon-huffy,  or 
yellowish  buffy ;  abdomen,  usually  pale  yellow,  some- 
times white. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest  :  Located  among  willows, 
live  oaks  or  saplings,  from  five  to  twenty  feet  up;  a 
loosely  put  together,  frail  structure  of  fine  twigs,  weed 
stems,  grass,  and  rootlets.  Eggs  :  3  or  4,  bluish  green, 
speckled  and  blotched  with  chestnut  and  rufous 
brown. 

Distribution. —  Western  United  States  and  plateau 
of  Mexico;  north  in  summer,  to  British  Columbia. 
Idaho,  Montana,  etc.,  east  to  southeastern  Dakota, 
eastern  Nebraska  and  eastern  Kansas  ;  breeding  south 
to  southern  portion  of  Mexican  plateau. 


The  Black-headed  Grosbeak  may  be  used  as  a 
striking  illustration  of  the  theory  of  evolution. 
It  resembles  the  Rose-breasted  Grosbeak  closely 
in  structure,  form,  and  habits ;  its  notes  are 
almost  the  same,  yet  in  plumage  it  differs  widely, 
but  still  shows  relationship.  What  better  evi- 
dence is  needed  to  indicate  that  the  two  species 
were  once  one,  and  that  the  only  noticeable 
difference  between  them  that  is  observable  to-day 
was  caused  by  climatic  influences?  The  pure 
warbling  song  of  the  Black-head  as  well  as  its 
thin  alarm  note  may  be  recognized,  when  heard 
for  the  first  time,  by  their  close  resemblance  to 
those  of  its  eastern  prototype.  The  two  species 
seem  to  show  similar  tastes  in  regard  to  food, 
as  the  Black-head  attacks  the  potato  beetle  and 
the  buds  of  trees  with  the  same  avidity  that  is 
shown  in  the  east  by  its  congener.  Even  the 
nest  and  eggs  resemble  those  of  the  Rose-breast, 
although  in  the  southern  part  of  its  range  the 
Black-head's  nest  is  exceedingly  flimsy,  so  that  in 
some  cases  the  eggs  may  be  seen  through  it  from 
below. 

Apparently  the  species  is  tnore  prolific  than 
the  Rose-breast,  which  ordinarily  rears  but  one 
brood  annually.  The  Grinnells  in  their  Birds 
of  Song  and  Story  tell  of  a  pair  of  Black-heads 
that  raised  three  broods  in  their  garden,  but  the 
glorious  climate  of  California  which  tends  to 
induce  fecunditv  may  be  resnonsible  for  this. 


The  male  Grosbeak  is  a  handsome  bird,  start- 
lingly  flashy  in  flight,  with  its  contrast  of  black, 
white,  and  yellow,  but  is  a  little  coarse  or  heavy 
in  form.  Its  big  beak,  like  a  huge  nose,  reminds 
us  of  the  story  of  little  Red-Riding  Hood  and  the 
wolf,  for  it  is  almost  as  prominent  as  the  wolf's 
muzzle,  which  as  a  counterfeit  grandmother's 
nose  so  astonished  the  child  when  seen  protrud- 
ing from  the  depths  of  the  frilled  nightcap. 

The  male  like  that  of  the  Rose-breast  is  a  good 
father  and  relieves  his  mate  on  the  nest,  taking 
his  share  of  the  duties  of  incubation  and  chick- 
rearing.  He  keeps  the  nest  during  a  large  part 
of  the  day  and  the  female  takes  his  place  by 
night :  thus  the  eggs  are  constantly  kept  covered 
and  defended. 

The  Black-headed  Grosbeak  is  a  bird  of  the 
forest  but  like  its  eastern  relative  it  seems  to 
prefer  for  nesting  a  place  in  deciduous  woods 
and  shrubbery,  especially  among  the  alders  along 
small  streams ;  but  when  assured  of  protection  it 
comes  as  freely  about  the  dwellings  of  man  as 
does  the  Rose-breast  and  even  nests  in  the  fig 
trees.  The  male  pours  forth  his  ptire  and  tender 
rhapsody  from  the  heights  of  tall  oaks  or  pines, 
but  does  not  disdain  to  sing  even  while  hunting 
the  lowly  "  potato-bug."  Through  the  long  day 
he  sings,  even  at  hot  high  noon  when  other  less 
virile  songsters  are  resting  and  silent. 

Edward  Howe  Forbush. 


FINCHES 


69 


The  Black-headed  Grosbeak  fills  the  same 
place  in  the  West  that  the  Rose-breast  does  in 
the  East,  and  economically  is  fully  as  important. 
In  parts  of  its  range  it  is  destructive  to  early 
fruit  and  attacks  also  green  peas  and  beans. 
However,  since  by  proper  precautions  such  losses 
may  be  minimized  or  altogether  prevented,  they 
should  not  be  given  too  much  weight  in  estimat- 
ing the  value  of  the  bird.  Instead  of  being 
regarded  as  an  enemy  by  western  orchardists, 
the  Black-head  should  be  esteemed  as  a  friend, 
since  it  is  a  foe  to  the  worst  pests  of  horticul- 
ture —  the  scale  insects  —  which  compose  a 
fourth  of  its  food.  The  black  olive  scale  alone 
constitutes  a  fifth  of  the  bird's  subsistence,  and 
the  frosted  scale  and  apricot  scale,  or  European 
fruit  lecanium,  also  are  destroyed.  In  May 
considerable  numbers  of  canker  worms  and  cod- 
ling moths  are  eaten,  and  almost  a  sixth  of  the 
bird's  seasonal  food  consists  of  flower  beetles. 
which  do  incalculable  damage  to  cultivated 
flowers  and  to  ripe  fruit.  For  each  quart  of  fruit 
consumed  by  the  Black-headed  Grosbeak  it  de- 
stroys in  actual  bulk  more  than  one  and  one-half 
quarts  of  black  olive  scales,  one  quart  of  flower 
beetles,  besides  a  generous  quantity  of  codling 
moth  pupae  and  canker  worms.  So  effectively 
does  it  fight  these  pests  that  the  necessity  for  its 


preservation  is  obvious 
to  fruit  is  preventable. 


while  most  of  its  iniurv 


R.  Bruce  Horsfall 
BLACK-HEADED  GROSBEAKS  ( ;. 


BLUE  GROSBEAK 
Guiraca  caerulea  casrulea   (  LiiiiKVus) 

A.    I  ).    U.    .N'uml-jcr    ^g?       See   Color   Plate   8(> 


Other  Name. —  Blue  Pop. 

General  Description. —  Length,  734  inches.  Male, 
blue :  female,  olive-brownish  above  and  brownish-buffy 
below.  Bill,  large,  conical,  compressed,  with  nearly 
straight  outlines ;  wings,  long  and  pointed  ;  tail,  about 
54  length  of  wing,  nearly  even  or  very  slightly  rounded. 

Color. — .\dult  M.m.e:  Uniform,  slightly  glossy, 
dull  ultramarine  blue,  the  feathers  of  the  back 
dusky  centrally  ;  a  narrow  black  spot  on  crown  involv- 
ing the  forehead,  the  extreme  front  portion  of  cheek 
region,  and  chin;  wings  and  tail,  blackish  with  dull 
bluish  edgings,  the  middle  wing-coverts  with  most  of 
the  exposed  portion,  chestnut  or  cinnamon-rufous 
(forming  a  broad  band),  the  greater  coverts  margined 
at  the  ends  with  the  same  or  a  paler  color  (forming  a 
much  narrower  band),  under  tail-coverts  margined 
with  white,  especially  at  tips ;  iris,  brown.  .'\nui.T 
Female:  Above,  olive-brownish  tinged  with  tawny, 
passing  into  a  decidedly  more  grayish  hue  (usually 
tinged    with    blue)    on    rump    and    upper    tail-coverts; 


shoulders  darker  centrally,  forming  indistinct  streaks; 
wings  and  tail,  dusky,  the  latter  with  dull  grayish  blue, 
the  former  with  light  brownish  edgings ;  middle  wing- 
coverts,  rather  broadly  tipped  with  light  cinnamon- 
rufous  or  tawny  and  terminal  margins  of  greater 
coverts  usually  tinged  with  the  same ;  under  parts, 
brownish-buffy  or  clay  color,  deepest  on  chest,  paler  on 
throat  and   abdomen. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest  :  Placed  in  low  brambles,  or 
in  deciduous  trees  as  far  as  thirty  feet  from  the  ground; 
a  compact,  well  built  structure  of  dried  grass,  plant 
fibers,  leaves,  with  an  intertwined  cast-ofif  snake  skin  ; 
lined  with  fine  brown  rootlets  and  horse-hair.  Er.os : 
3  or  4,  plain  light  bluish  white. 

Distribution. —  More  southern  portions  of  eastern 
United  States,  chiefly  near  Atlantic  and  Gulf  coasts : 
north  regularly,  but  very  locally,  to  Pennsylvania,  New 
Jersey,  Kentucky,  and  southern  Illinois ;  accidentally  to 
Maine,  eastern  Massachusetts,  Province  of  Quebec ;  in 
winter  south  to  Cuba  and  Yucatan. 


70 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


The  Blue  Grosbeak  is  an  interesting  bird  of 
the  Southern  States.  He  is  not  quite  so  handsome 
nor  has  he  such  interesting  notes  as  the  Cardinal 
and  the  Rose-breast.  And  he  is  not  as  well  known 
as  tliose  distinguished  relatives,  for  nowhere  is 
he  common.  In  short  trees  and  bushes  from 
Maryland  to  the  ("lulf  coast  he  may  be  found 
probably  as  often  as  anywhere.  The  blue  is  not 
so  blue  as  to  attract  attention.  The  color  is  so 
dark  that  in  certain  lights  the  bird  might  be  mis- 
taken for  a  Cowbird.  He  is  a  very  quiet  bird. 
The  evidence  available  would  seem  to  make 
him  more  suspicious  of  man  than  is  the  Rose- 
breast. 


is  but  one  variety  in  the  Southwest.  The  Utah 
and  California  birds  differ  from  the  Arizona 
birds,  and  they  from  the  Texas  birds.  The 
western  is  paler  colored ;  and  bird  observers  in 
those  areas  seem  to  know  the  bird  better  than  do 
those  of  the  East,  showing  that  his  haunts  are 
nearer  the  homes  of  men.  Even  there  his  haunts 
are  most  often  along  the  rushing  streams  in  the 
brush  of  the  canons  of  the  foothills. 

Blue  Grosbeaks  do  no  damage  during  the  nest- 
ing period,  and,  in  fact,  are  of  great  value  to  any 
farm  they  choose  for  a  home,  since  thev  eat 
large  numbers  of  injurious  insects  and  feed  their 
young  exclusively  upon  them.     In  certain  locali- 


Dramng  by  R.  I.  Brasher 

BLUE  GROSBEAK  ( ;,  nat.  size) 
You  will  have  to  look  closely  to  see  the  "  blue  "  in  this  bird's  plumage 


His  song  is  a  weaker  effort  than  the  Rose- 
breast's.  It  is  a  rather  sweet  warble  of  the 
Purple  Finch  nature,  and  has  sometimes  been 
called  a  beautiful  song.  No  doubt  this  rare  bird 
far  away  from  the  human  ear  pours  forth  a  very 
sweet  melody  to  his  mate,  but  no  one  has  yet 
given  a  biography  of  this  interesting  bird  as  has 
been  done  of  his  near  relatives,  the  Cardinal  and 
Rose-breast. 

The  territory  of  the  Blue  Grosbeak  extends 
entirely  across  the  southern  half  of  the  United 
States ;  but  west  of  Louisiana  there  are  so  many 
differences  in  coloration  of  the  bird  that  the 
scientists  have  made  of  them  a  separate  variety, 
the  Western  Blue  Grosbeak  ( Guiraca  ccrrulca 
laciiliA.     Ridgwav  is  not  at  all  sure  that  there 


ties,  however,  after  the  breeding  season.  Blue 
Grosbeaks  collect  in  flocks,  move  into  grain  fields, 
particularly  those  of  oats  and  rice,  and  sometimes 
do  considerable  harm.  Despite  such  depreda- 
tions, the  loss  of  cereals  is  repaid  many  fold, 
since  the  birds  consume  almost  five  times  as 
much  insect  food  as  grain.  Moreover,  some  of 
the  insects  they  devour  are  especially  destructive, 
such  as  weevils.  More  than  a  fourth  of  the 
seasonal  food  is  composed  of  grasshoppers,  in- 
cluding the  lesser  migratory  locust.  A  tenth  of 
the  subsistence  is  made  up  of  caterpillars  and 
cotton  cutworms,  enemies  of  sugar  beets  and 
cotton.  Because  of  its  effective  warfare  on 
these  pests,  the  Blue  Grosbeak  is  an  efficient  ally 
of  the  farmer  and  deserves  to  be  protected. 


FINCHES 


71 


INDIGO  BUNTING 
Passerina  cyanea  [  Liinunis) 

O.    r.    Xumlier    5gS      >if   t  olor    I 'late  86 


Other  Names. —  Indigo  Bluebird :  Indigo  Painted 
Bunting;  Indigo  Bird;  Indigo  Fincli :  Blue  Finch; 
Blue  Canary. 

General  Descriprion. —  Length,  5'4  inches.  Male, 
blue;  female,  olive-brownish  above  and  dull  white 
below.  Bill,  small ;  wings,  long  and  pointed ;  tail,  about 
■U  length  of  wing,  slightly  double  rounded. 

Color. — .'\dult  M.\le  :  General  color,  plain  cerulean 
blue,  changing  to  bluish  green  in  certain  lights,  the  head 
more  purplish  blue,  this  extending  down  the  foreneck 
and,  usually,  strongly  tingeing  the  center  under  parts  of 
the  body;  lores  and  central  (tnostly  concealed)  portion 
of  wing-coverts  and  inner  wing-quills,  black;  second- 
aries, primaries,  primary  coverts,  dusky  edged  witli 
greenish-blue;  iris,  brown.  Adult  Fem.^le:  Above, 
olive-brownish,  lighter,  and  sometimes  tinged  with 
greenish-gray  on  rump  and  upper  tail-coverts;  beneath, 
dull  whitish  washed  or  tinged  with  olive-buffy  on  chest, 
sides,    and    flanks,    the    chest    distinctly    streaked    with 


dusky  grayish-brown;  wings  and  tail,  dusky,  the  lesser 
wing-coverts  and  edges  of  primaries  and  tail-feathers, 
grayish-greenish,  the  tips  of  middle  coverts  brownish. 
Young:  Similar  to  adult  female,  but  averaging  rather 
browner,  especially  on  under  parts,  the  back  sometimes, 
especially  in  first  plumage,  obsoletely  streaked. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest  :  Generally  in  a  low  vibur- 
num, witch-hazel,  or  maple  saplings,  or  other  sm.all 
buslies,  or  in  brambles  on  brushy  hillsides  or  open 
clearings  near  woods  ;  usually  in  a  fork,  within  five  feet 
of  ground;  constructed  of  grasses,  leaves,  weed  stalks, 
strips  of  bark,  plant  fibers,  lined  with  finer  grasses  and 
hair.     Egcs  :     4.  plain  pale  bluish  white. 

Distribution. —  Eastern  United  States  and  British 
provinces ;  north  to  Maine,  Ontario,  Minnesota,  etc. 
(casually  to  New  Brunswick);  south  in  winter  to 
Baliamas.  Cuba,  and  through  eastern  Mexico  and 
Central  .America  to  Panama  ;  west  to  eastern  border  of 
(.ireat  Plains,  casually  to  eastern  Colorado. 


The  Indigo  Bunting  is  anoLher  bird  with  a  dis- 
tinct personality.  No  other  bird  attracts  quite 
the  peculiar  attention  that  this  bird  does.  To 
get  acquainted  with  him  one  must  be  pre]iarcd 
for  surprises,  and  what  they  all  are  will  not  be 
told  here. 

The  luale  has  such  a  peculiar  color  ;  no  bird 
outside  of  the  tropics  has  such  a  |>eculiar  lilue 
as  the  male  Indigo  Bird.  It  isn't  an  indigo  color 
but  rather  a  deep  ultramarine  blue.  Just  as  you 
have  made  up  your  mind  that  that  is  the  right 
name  of  the  color,  you  get  the  bird  in  a  different 
light  and  behold  he  is  grayish  blue,  or  azure-blue, 
or  maybe  olive-blue.  At  least  there  is  no  con- 
fusing him  with  any  other  bluish  bird.  The 
female,  however,  is  imc  of  the  persistently  con- 
fusing birds  to  bird  students.  She  has  a  charac- 
teristic cliccp  and  twitches  her  tail  from  side  to 
side,  but  in  coloring  she  is  a  plain  little  brown- 
striped  Sparrow.  There  isn't  a  single  distinctive 
featiu'e-  that  is  apt  to  strike  one's  eye  with  a 
surety  that  will  allow  even  the  most  accurate 
observer  to  determine  on  the  instant  the  name 
of  the  bird.  Most  observers  see  the  male  in  the 
neighborhood,  and  by  a  process  of  exclusion  will 
decide  that  the  little  brown  bird  is  also  an  Indigo 
Bunting. 

The  male  is  one  of  the  most  shovvv  of  birds 
and  is  not  afraid  to  exhibit  himself  on  a  fence 
rail,  or  tilting  on  the  reeds,  or  dodging  about  in 
a  flock  of  English  Sparrows,  or  up  on  a  bush  or 
short  tree  within  easy  view.     The  female  is  sus- 


picious, secretive,  silent,  and  sometiiues  as  hard 
to  see  as  a  mouse  in  a  thicket. 

Yet   another   surprise.      The    Indigo    Bunting 
seems  so  busy  feeding  and  .going  in  and  out  of 


ving  by  R.  I.  Brasher 

INDIGO  BUNTING  1 


plumage, 


thickets  on  some  mysterious  errands,  that  he 
doesn't  seem  to  have  much  time  to  sing,  while 
the  other  birds  are  doing  their  best  in  ^lay  and 
June.  Wait  till  the  other  birds  decrease  the 
volume  and  intensity  of  their  singing  in  lulv,  or 


72 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


stop  entirely ;  then  the  Indigo  Bunting  begins  to 
take  an  interest  in  his  voice.  The  summer  heat 
makes  the  Robin  open  his  bill  in  the  shadow  to 
gasp  for  breath.  The  Bobolink  is  off  for  the 
marshes  to  keep  cool.  The  Song  Sparrow  hides 
in  the  bushes  till  the  extreme  heat  of  the  day  is 
over.  But  the  Indigo  Bird  is  never  daunted  by 
the  heat  of  July  and  August  days.  Many  and 
many  a  highway  can  be  traversed  in  the  heat  of 
the  day  without  hearing  one  bird  utter  even  a 
short  note,  except  the  Indigo  Bird.  He  sings 
from  the  top  of  a  bush  or  a  short  tree  or  a  tele- 
phone pole  or  on  the  very  topmost  tiny  twig  of 
the  very  tallest  tree  in  the  neighborhood  and  with 
the  greatest  glee  "  he  loudly  sings  his  roundelay 
of  love."  The  persistence,  almost  by  the  hour,  of 
the  sweet  simple  song  is  one  of  the  surprises  of 
the  bird.  So  far  up  against  the  blue  he  sometimes 
is  that  not  only  color  is  lost  but  even  his  form 
is  often  too  vague  to  be  identified.  The  baking 
hot  Sim  even  quiets  many  of  the  insects,  yet 
there  come  the  notes  of  the  Indigo  Bunting 
tumbling  down  from  far  up  in  the  sky.  He 
certainly  has  the  field  all  to  himself. 

]\Irs.  Bailey  gives  an  interesting  account  of  an 
Indigo  Bird.  "  I  well  remember  watching  one 
Indigo  Bird,  who,  day  after  day,  used  to  fly  to 


the  lowest  limb  of  a  high  tree  and  sing  his  way 
up  from  branch  to  branch,  bursting  into  jubilant 
song  when  he  reached  the  topmost  bough.  I 
watched  him  climb  as  high  into  the  air  as  he 
could,  when  against  a  background  of  blue  sky 
and  rolling  white  clouds,  the  blessed  little  song- 
ster broke  out  into  the  blithest  round  that  ever 
bubbled  up  from  a  glad  heart." 

Follow  the  life  of  the  bird  as  long  as  he 
remains  in  our  northern  clime,  and  very  many 
surprising  things  will  be  found  out  about  him. 
Instead  of  being  one  of  the  many  species  of  the 
large  Sparrow  family,  it  would  seem  that  he 
might  be  given  a  scientific  family  name  all  to 
himself.  L.  Nelson  Nichols. 

The  Indigo  Bird  is  one  of  our  most  valuable 
species  and  should  be  given  rigid  protection.  His 
food  consists  mainly  of  seeds  and  berries  with  a 
goodly  number  of  insects.  Among  the  insects 
are  found  caterpillars,  click-beetles,  snout-beetles, 
chafers,  bugs  of  various  kinds,  and  canker 
worms.  In  an  orchard  that  was  infested  with 
canker  worms  tlie  Indigo  Bird  was  foimd  eating 
more  than  its  usual  amount  of  these  pests,  some 
stomachs  showing  as  much  as  78  per  cent,  of 
canker  worms. 


LAZULI  BUNTING 
Passerina  amoena   (Say) 

A.   O.   U.   Number  599 


Other  Name. —  Lazuli  Painted  Bunting. 

General  Description. —  Length,  6  inches.  Male,  blue 
above  and  tawny  and  white  below;  female,  brown  and 
blue  above  and  bufify  below.  Bill,  small :  wings,  long 
and  pointed  :  tail,  about  -I4  length  of  wing,   forked. 


Color. —  .^DULT  M.M.E :  Head.  neck.  rump,  and 
upper  tail-coverts.  light  cerulean  or  turquoise  blue, 
changing  to  light  greenish-blue  (Nile  blue)  :  back, 
shoulders,  and  lesser  wing-coverts,  darker  and  (espe- 
cially   back)     duller    blue;    middle    wing-coverts,    very 


Drawing  by  R.  I.  Brasher 

LAZDXI  BtJNTING  (',  nat.  size) 
A  handsome  songster  of  the  western  mountains  and  valleys 


Courtesy  of   the  Nt-w  Yo:«  State  Museu 


Plate 


/'^ 


,-:<*«»'■"•■-    A 


^s^lvl 


INDIGO   BUNTING     /'.issfrinrj  c-/<!rira  (Linnaeus) 

FEMALE 


FINCHES 


73 


broadly  tipped  with  wliite.  the  greater  coverts  more 
narrowly  tiiiped  with  the  same,  forming  two  bands ; 
wings,  otherwise  blackish ;  tail,  blackish ;  chest,  tawny- 
ochraceous ;  abdomen,  under  tail-coverts,  etc..  white; 
iris  brown.  Adult  Fem.^le:  Above,  grayish-brown 
passing  into  dull  greenish-blue,  or  much  tinged  with 
this  color,  on  rump  and  upper  tail-coverts,  the  back 
sometimes  streaked  with  dusky ;  wings  and  tail,  dusky, 
the  feathers  edged  with  dull  greenish-blue;  under  parts, 
dull  buft'y. 


Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest:  Usually  located  near 
water,  in  low  willows,  weeds,  manzanitas,  or  other 
brush;  constructed  of  grass,  leaves,  strips  of  bark, 
small  twigs,  and  rootlets,  lined  with  fine  grasses  and 
hair.     Eu;(,s:     ji  or  4,  plain  pale  bluish  or  greenish  white. 

Distribution. —  Western  United  States  and  British 
provinces;  north  to  British  Columbia,  Idaho,  Mon- 
tana, etc.;  south  (in  winter)  to  Mexico;  cast  nearly  or 
quite  across  the  Great  Plains  to  South  Dakota,  Kansas, 
etc. 


"  The  Lazuli-painted  Finch  should  be  called 
the  Blue-headed  Finch  ;  for  the  exquisite  bluencss 
of  his  whole  head,  including  throat,  breast,  and 
shoulders,  as  if  he  had  been  dipped  so  far  intD 
blue  dye,  is  his  most  distinguishing  feature.  The 
Bluebird  wears  heaven's  color  ;  so  does  the  Jay 
and  likewise  the  Indigo  Bird;  but  not  one  can 
boast  the  lovely  and  indescribable  shade,  with  it^ 
silvery  reflections,  that  adorns  the  Lazuli.  .Vcruss 
the  breast,  under  the  blue,  is  a  broad  band  of 
chestnut,  like  the  breast  color  of  our  Bluebird, 
and  back  of  that  is  white,  while  the  wings  and 
tail  are  dark.  Altogether  he  is  charming  to  look 
upon."  Thtis  Olive  Thorne  Miller  describes  the 
Lazuli  Bunting. 

The  Lazulis  are  close  relatives  of  the  Painted 
Bunting;  but  they  are  much  more  shy,  except 
in  districts  where  they  are  numerous  and  then 
they  appear  to  believe  that  there  is  safety  in 
numbers. 

The  Painted  Bunting  often  comes  about 
country  h(jmes  in  the  east  and  sometimes  he 
will  venture  into  a  town  if  there  are  bushes 
and  trees  convenient.  The  Lazulis  love  the 
plains  and  the  foot-hills ;  they  are  seldom  found 
very  high  in  the  mountains.    Their  song  is  almost 


indistinguishable     from     that     of     tin 
Warbler. 


Summer 


LAZULI   BUi'V  IING 
Young  being  fed  by  their  mother 


PAINTED   BUNTING 
Passerina  ciris  (  l..iiiii(rHs) 

A     11.    I'.    N'limlitT   r.ni 


Painted    Fincli  ;    Pope:    Nonpareil; 


Other    Names. 
Mexican   Canary. 

General  Description. —  Length.  6  inches.  Male, 
hlue.  green,  and  reddish  al)Ove.  and  red  below  ;  female, 
green  above  and  yellowish  below.  Bill,  small ;  wings, 
long  and  pointed  ;  tail,  about  ^4  length  of  wing,  slightly 
double  rounded. 

Color. —  .Adult  M.\le:  Head  and  neck,  except 
chin    and    throat,    purplish-blue ;    black    and    shoulders. 


bright  yellowish-green  ;  rump  and  upper  tail-coverts, 
purplish-red;  eye-ring  (more  or  less  complete)  and 
under  parts,  including  throat,  vermilion  red ;  greater 
wing-coverts,  parrot  green  ;  middle  coverts,  dull  reddish- 
purple,  lesser  coverts,  dull  purplish-blue ;  wings,  dusky 
edged  with  dull-purplish  and  .green  ;  tail-feathers,  dull 
dusky-reddish  or  purplish;  upper  jaw.  blackish;  iris, 
brown.  Adult  Female:  Above,  plain  dull  green; 
beneath,  olive-vellowish,  clearer  vellow  on  abdomen  and 


74 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


under  tail-coverts.  Young;  Above,  dull  grayish-brown 
tinged  here  and  there  vvfith  greenish ;  middle  and  greater 
wing-coverts,  narrovvly  tipped  with  pale  buff  or  buffy- 
grayish ;  under  parts,  dull  grayish-buffy. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest  :  Located  in  cat-claw,  black- 
berry, chajiarral  or  other  low  bushes  and  saplings  or 
in  tall  trees;  a  compact  structure,  composed  of  leaves, 
twigs,  grass,  bark  strips,  and  lined  with  fine  grasses  and 


liorse-hair.  Eggs:  4  or  5,  creamy  or  bluish-white, 
spotted  and  blotched  with  reddish-brown  and  lavender. 
Distribution. —  Southeastern  North  America  ;  north 
to  coast  of  North  Carolina,  southern  Illinois,  southern 
Kansas  ;  south,  in  winter,  to  Bahamas,  Cuba,  the  whole 
of  Mexico,  and  through  Central  America  to  Panama; 
west  during  migration  to  Arizona ;  occasional  in  winter 
in  southern  Louisiana  and  central  Florida. 


The  Painted  Bunting  is  a  southern  bird  of 
such  a  quiet  manner  that  he  is  not  very  well 
known.  He  spends  most  of  his  time  in  the  dense 
thickets  of  the  river  bottoms,  or  far  ofif  in  bushy 
wood  lots,  or  in  the  almost  impenetrable  tangles 
of  the  steeper  hillsides.    Far  out  in  the  southwest 


rises  to  the  level  of  sweetness,  but  Nonpareil  does 
not  lose  himself  long  in  his  song.  Maybe  his 
painted  and  patched  beauty  attracts  his  attention 
to  himself  too  much. 

In   Mexico  he   is  quite   a   favorite   cage  bird. 
.Americans   along  the   border   are   therefore   apt 


:;'^'SSN. 


^^"^ 


Drawing  by  R.  I.  BrashL-r 

PAINTED  BUNTING 


ay  be  dangerous  to   be 


this  Nonpareil  ( as  he  is  better  known  in  the 
West)  is  not  quite  so  secretive.  There  he  is 
found  commonly  in  the  mesquite  and  in  tlie 
small  brush  of  the  river  banks. 

Like  the  Indigo  Bird  he  sings  best  in  the 
middle  of  the  summer.  But  a  great  deal  of  tiie 
singing  is  done  from  the  middle  of  a  brush  pile 
or  the  inside  of  a  thicket  of  latu"el  or  even  in 
a  mass  of  luxtiriant  semitropica!  weeds.  Nonpar- 
eil seems  also  to  favor  the  cypress  swamps.  This 
shy  bird  has  a  very  sweet  song  resembling  some- 
what the  song  of  the  Indigo  Bird.  There  is  a 
conciseness  and  feebleness  about  the  song  that 
makes  it,  however,  much  inferior  to  the  Indigo 
Bird.     .Sometimes  there  is  a  broken  warble  that 


to  speak  of  the  bird  as  the  Mexican  Canary. 
.Strange  to  say,  his  clear,  carrying  voice  loses, 
none  of  its  quality  in  the  cage,  but  his  varied 
colors  in  time  are  nuich  diminished. 

Like  most  strikingly  colored  male  birds,  the 
Nonpareil  struts  before  his  modest  colored  mate 
in  the  mating  season.  With  spread  wings  and 
tail  he  makes  a  very  interesting  picture  parading 
up  and  down  on  the  ground  before  his  mate. 

A  closely  allied  species  called  the  Varied 
Bunting  ( Passcriua  versicolor  versicolor)  and 
its  variant,  the  Beautiful  Bunting  {Passcriua 
versicolor  piilchra).  wander  over  the  border  from 
Mexico  into  Texas  and  Arizona.  The  Varied 
Bunting  is  of  accidental  occurrence  in  Michigan. 


FINCHES 


75 


DICKCISSEL 

Spiza  americana  {(.iiiu-lin) 

A,    O,    L',    .\umbcr   004 


Other  Names. —  Black-throated  Bunting;  Little 
Meadowlark. 

General  Description. —  Length.  6.>4  inches.  Upper 
parts,  gray,  brown,  and  black,  streaked ;  under  parts, 
white  and  yellow.  Bill,  stout,  conical,  and  compressed; 
wings.  long  and  pointed  ;  tail,  about  -'4  length  of  wing, 
forked. 

Color. — .-\dult  AL-\le;  Crown,  hindneck.  sides  of 
neck,  and  ear  region,  plain  gray,  the  forehead  and 
crown  usually  olive-greenish  ;  over  eyes  a  narrow  stripe 
of  pale  yellow,  sometimes  white  toward  the  back ;  back 
and  shoulders,  light  brownish-gray  or  grayish-brown, 
streaked  with  black,  the  rump  similar  but  paler  and 
grayer  and  witliout  streaks ;  middle  wing-coverts, 
brownish-gray  with  dusky  shaft-streaks ;  lesser  and 
middle  wing-coverts  cinnamon-rufous;  greater  coverts 
and  wing  feathers,  dusky  centrally  broadly  edged  with 
pale  wood-brownish,  the  former  sometimes  tinged  with 
cinnamon-rufous;  secondaries,  primaries,  and  tail 
feathers,  grayish-dusky  edged  with  pale  buffy-grayish 
(edging  nearly  white  on  outermost  primaries  and  tail 
feathers)  ;  cheek  region,  yellow  toward  the  front,  white 
toward  the  back;  chin  (and  usually  upper  throat), 
white;  breast  (sometimes  part  of  abdomen  also)  yellow, 
this  fading  into  white  on  lower  abdomen,  under  tail- 
coverts,  etc.  ;  the  sides  and  flanks,  pale  brownish-gray ; 
a  black  patch,  of  e.xceedingly  variable  shape  and  ex- 
tent, on  lower  throat,  sometimes  continued  backward 
along  the  middle  line  of  breast  to  upper  part  of  ab- 
domen or   forward    (but  not  including)    the  chm  ;   iris. 


brown.  -AnuLT  Fem.-\le:  Much  like  the  adult  male, 
but  coloration  much  duller ;  upper  parts,  more  brown, 
with  the  crown  and  rinnp  usually  streaked  with  dusky: 
stripes  over  the  eye  and  on  the  cheeks  with  less  of 
yellow,  sometimes  with  none  ;  under  parts  with  yellow 
of  breast  more  restricted;  whole  throat  white,  mar- 
gined on  the  sides  by  a  streak  of  dusky;  no  black  spot 
on  lower  throat,  or  else  this  much  smaller  than  in  male; 
flanks  streaked  with  dusky. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest:  Placed  on  ground  sheltered 
by  a  tuft  of  grass,  or  in  trees  or  bushes  sometimes 
Iff  teen  feet  up,  but  the  typical  site  is  on  the  ground,  in 
meadovifs  or  fields;  constructed  principally  of  dried 
grass,  with  some  leaves,  weed  stems,  rootlets  and 
shreds  of  corn  husks,  lined  with  fine  grass  or  horse- 
hair.    Eggs:     4  or  5,  plain  pale  blue. 

Distribution. —  United  States  east  of  Rocky  Moun- 
tains, and  southward  in  winter  through  New  Mexico, 
.\rizona,  Mexico  (both  coasts),  and  Central  America 
to  C^olombia  and  Trinidad;  occasional  during  migration 
in  Jamaica  and  on  Swan  Island  (Caribbean  Sea)  ; 
breeding  from  South  Carolina  (formerly),  Alabama, 
Mississippi,  and  Te.xas  north  to  North  Dakota,  Minne- 
sota, Wisconsin,  Michigan  (south  of  lat.  43°),  southern 
Ontario,  etc.,  formerly  to  eastern  Massachusetts.  Now 
chiefly  restricted  during  the  breeding  season  to  the 
region  between  the  Allegheny  Mountains  and  eastern 
base  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  having,  for  unknown 
reasons,  become  practically  extinct  since  about  1870 
throughout  the  whole  of  the  .-Atlantic  coast  plain. 


The  Dickcissel  is  so  named  from  the  simple 
song  with  which  he  makes  cheery  the  fence-rows 
and  bushy  corners  of  the  prairies.  It  is  a  simple 
song,  almost  too  furry  and  certainly  too  simple 
to  be  counted  as  good  bird  music.  But  the  con- 
stant repetition  comes  to  influence  the  listener 
with  pleasure  because  there  is  a  suninierv, 
homely  sweetness  about  the  iiersistency  of  the 
notes  that  matches  the  season. 

The  bird  has  been  called  the  Black-throated 
Bunting  and  also  the  Little  Meadowlark.  His 
habits  are  those  of  the  bush-haunting  Sparrows, 
from  whom  he  is  never  far  away  except  when 
in  the  migratory  winter  flocks  on  the  Texas 
plains.  There  the  flocks  are  ever  in  motion  mov- 
ing on  by  flight  of  the  rear  ranks  over  to  the 
front  in  a  continuotis  forward  procession.  But 
up  in  the  more  northern  areas  he  is  a  shy  bird. 
Professor  Walter  B.  Barrows  says  that  it  "  is 
one  of  our  most  interesting  birds,  not  alone  on 


account  of  its  beattty,  but  because  it  varies 
greatly  in  numbers  in  different  localities,  and  in 
the  same  locality  in  different  years."  This  great 
variation  in  frequency  is  most  noticeable  along 
the  outer  edges  of  its  area.  In  1871  the  bird  was 
common  at  Colorado  city,  but  it  has  not  been 
noted  as  cominon  in  the  State  of  Colorado  since 
that  time.  About  Civil  War  times  Dickcissels 
were  not  rare  in  western  New  York  and  west- 
ern Pennsylvania,  areas  in  which  they  are  now 
counted  as  only  accidental  visitors.  Along  the 
north  side  of  the  Dickcissel  area,  the  birds  are 
common  one  year,  rare  the  next,  absent  the  next 
and  then  back  again  to  common.  Different  dis- 
tricts over  the  north  side  of  the  Dickcissel  range 
are  going  throttgh  different  experiences  at  the 
same  time.  Southern  Michigan  may  be  losing 
Dickcissels  over  a  period  of  five  years  while 
eastern  Wisconsin  is  gaining,  the  upper  Missis- 
sippi   valley    retaining    its    numbers    and    south- 


76 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


western  Minnesota  losing.  How  all  this  is  to  be 
accounted  for  is  yet  to  be  worked  out  by  those 
who  are  willing  to  give  time  to  the  study  of  the 
food  and  habits  of  the  bird. 


Drawing  by  R.  I.  Braslier 

DICKCISSEL  (I  nat.  size) 


Nowhere  is  the  bird  classed  as  one  of  the 
leading  bird  favorites,  and  yet  a  person  who 
lives  in  the  central  States  and  the  middle  west, 
and  does  not  know  this  bird  is  missing  an  un- 
usually interesting  neighbor.  This  is  so  because 
of  his  song,  his  unusual  beauty,  his  plump  and 
genial  personality,  and  above  all,  the  uncertainty 
of  his  presence.  But,  do  not  forget,  that  more 
than  once  experienced  ornithologists  have  proved 
that  it  is  quite  possible  and  very  easy  to  mistake 
a  male  English  Sparrow  for  a  Dickcissel. 

The  Dickcissel  is  preeminently  an  eater  of 
grasshoppers.  During  the  months  of  May,  June, 
July,  and  August,  these  insects  form  over  40  per 
cent,  of  his  food.  Caterpillars  —  canker  worms 
and  other  span-worms  and  cutworms  —  beetles 
and  snails  complete  his  animal  diet.  Of  course, 
being  a  typical  seed-eater  its  staple  food  during 
a  large  part  of  the  year  consists  of  the  seeds  of 
weeds  and  grasses. 


LARK  BUNTING 

Calamospiza    melanocorys    Stcjiiajcr 

A.    O.    U.    Number   605 


Other  Names. —  White-winged  Blackbird;  White- 
winged   Prairiebird  ;   Prairie  Bobolink. 

General  Description. —  Length.  7-]4  inches.  Male  in 
summer,  black;  male  in  winter  and  female  at  all  sea- 
sons, grayish-brown  above  and  white  below,  streaked 
above  and  below  with  dusky.  Bill,  large  and  conical; 
wings,  long  with  truncated  tips ;  tail,  about  44  length  of 
wing,  even,  the  feathers  rather  narrow. 

Color. — Adult  Male  in  Summer:  Uniform  black, 
with  a  grayish  cast  on  back,  etc. ;  middle  and 
greater  wing-coverts,  mostly  white,  forming  a  con- 
spicuous patch ;  inner  wing  quills,  edged  with  white,  and 
tail-coverts  (especially  the  lower)  margined  with 
white ;  outermost  tail  feathers,  edged  with  white  and 
sometimes  with  a  large  white  spot  at  tip  of  inner  web. 
Adult  Female  in  Summer:  Above,  grayish-brown 
streaked  with  dusky ;  wings  with  a  white  patch,  as  in 
the  male,  but  this  smaller,  more  interrupted  and  tinged 
with  buffy ;  under  parts,  white  streaked  on  breast, 
sides,    etc.,    with    dusky,      .^dult    Male    in    Winter: 


Similar  to  adult  female,  but  feathers  of  under  parts, 
especially  on  abdomen,  black  beneath  the  surface  (this 
showing  where  feathers  are  disarranged)  ;  chin,  black. 
AiiULT  Female  in  Winter:  Similar  to  tlie  summer 
female,  but  less  grayish-brown  and  with  paler  inarkings 
more  strongly  tinged  with  buff. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest  :  On  ground,  sunk  to  level 
and  usually  under  shelter  of  a  tussock  of  grass  or 
weeds;  constructed  of  grass  and  fine  weed  stems, 
lined  with  fine  grasses  and  vegetable  down.  Eggs  :  4 
or  5.  plain  light-blue. 

Distribution. —  Great  Plains  between  Missouri  River 
and  Rocky  Mountains ;  breeding  from  middle  and 
western  Kansas,  eastern  Colorado,  western  Minnesota, 
etc.,  to  Manitoba  and  Assiniboia ;  migrating  south  and 
southwest  in  winter,  through  Texas  (to  Gulf  coast). 
New  Mexico,  and  Arizona  to  plateau  of  Mexico,  Lower 
California,  and  coast  of  southern  California;  occasional 
west  of  Rocky  Mountains,  and  accidental  in  Massa- 
chusetts, New  York,  and  South  Carolina  in  the  fall. 


The  Lark  Bunting  is  a  bird  of  the  prairies  and 
might  very  well  have  been  named  from  the 
prairies.  Western  Kansas  and  eastern  Colorado 
are  the  home  of  most  of  the  Lark  Buntings, 
though  they  are  scattered  over  a  much  wider 
area.    Sotnetimes  out  on  the  plains  it  is  called  the 


White-winged  Blackbird.  That  name  certainly 
lefines  the  bird.  American  bird  students,  how- 
ever, associate  the  name  Blackbird  with  the 
Troupials  instead  of  the  Finches.  Just  one 
western  schoolgirl  has  fallen  upon  the  name  of 
White-winged  Prairiebird,  which  name  seems  to 


TANAGERS 


avoid  confusion  with  one  of  our  most  popular 
and  widespread  American  birds,  the  Lark  Spar- 
row. To  show  the  lack  of  definitcness  about  the 
common  name  of  this  bird,  it  is  probably  better 
known  as  the  Bobolink,  among  the  farming 
families  of  the  prairies,  than  by  any  other  name. 
There  are  many  Bobolink  traits  about  the  bird, 
superficial  traits  to  be  sure,  but  eudugh  to  make 
the  easterner  out  on  the  plain  recall  his  beloved 
Bobolink  of  the  east. 

The  Lark  Bvmting  has  a  rich  song  during  the 
breeding  season.  After  that  the  song  ceases. 
The  song  is  poured  out  frequently  on  the  wing 
much  in  the  manner  of  the  Bobolink  though  the 
song  itself  has  nothing  of  the  Bobolink  quality. 
When  many  Lark  Buntings  are  singing  at  once, 
some  from  the  tops  of  weeds  and  others  (jn  the 
wing,  the  effect  is  rich  and  musical. 

In  habits  the  birds  are  rather  shy  on  the  breed- 
ing grounds,  particularly  the  females.  They  are 
found  frequently  feeding  siilently  among  the 
flowers  of  the  prairie  floor.  At  other  times  they 
are  silently  waiting  on  top  of  some  bushes  or 
rails.  One  man  says  the  Lark  Buntings  are 
"  always  sitting  around  as  if  they  had  nothing 
to  do."  When  the  winds  blow,  this  bird  does  not 
flee  to  cover  as  do  many  birds.  He  often  stays 
out  in  the  winds  as  though  he  enjoyed  them  :  and 
he  has  been  seen  fighting  the  gales  as  though  his 
life  depended  on  going  to  some  destination  at 
that  time. 


When  the  migration  time  comes,  the  flocks  of 
Lark  Buntings  are  seen  on  the  more  southern 
prairie  lands  of  Texas  and  the  southwestern 
countrv.      There   thev    are   not    at   all   shv,    but 


ving  by  R.  I.  Brashe 

LARK  BUNTING  (i  nat.  size) 


rather  friendly  and  curious  of  humans  and 
domestic  animals.  As  they  fly  over  in  these 
flocks  they  utter  a  cheery,  sweet  hon-cc  with  a 
rising  inflection  that  is  distinctive  of  this  bird 
and  verv  attractive. 


TANAGERS 

Order  Passcrcs  ;  suborder  Oscincs  ;  family  Taiigarida: 

N  the  Tanagers,  the  bill  is  somev^^hat  conical  in  shape,  decidedly  longer  than 
its  breadth  or  depth  at  the  base ;  the  distinct  ridge  at  the  top  is  curved  and  at 
the  tip  is  hooked.  The  nostrils  are  exposed  and  rather  large  and  either  oval 
or  roundish.  There  are  bristles  at  the  corners  of  the  mouth  but  these  are 
not  conspicuous.  The  wing  is  moderate  or  long  and  pointed  or  rounded. 
The  tail  is  shorter  than  the  wing;  it  is  sometimes  notched,  sometimes  even, 
and  sometimes  slightly  forked  at  the  end;  the  feathers  are  of  medium  width 
and  rounded  at  the  tips. 

In  coloration  the  adult  males  are  more  or  less  red,  sometimes  entirely 
so,  with  or  without  black  wings  and  tails,  the  wings  sometimes  being  marked 
with  white,  yellow,  or  reddish  bands.  The  adult  females  have  the  red  replaced 
by  olive-greenish  above  and  by  yellowish  beneath,  but  the  wing  pattern  is  the  same  as  in 
the  male.  The  first  plumage  of  the  young  differs  from  the  adult  coloring  in  being  streaked 
beneath. 

Tanagers  are  found  in  temperate  North  America  southward  through  Mexico  and  Central 
America  and  tropical  vSouth  America  to  Argentina,  Bolivia,  and  Peru. 

The  word  "  Tanager  "  is  derived  from  the  Latin  name  Tanagra  which  Linnaeus  applied 
to  the  genus  and  which  is  probably  of  Brazilian  origin. 


78 


BIRDS   UF   AMERICA 


WESTERN  TANAGER 
Piranga  ludoviciana  (  Wilson) 

A.   O.  U.   Number  607 


Other  Name. —  Louisiana  Tanager. 

General  Description. —  Length,  yl4  inches.  Male, 
yellow,  black,  and  red ;  female,  olive-greenish,  yellow, 
and  dusky.  Bill,  stout;  wings,  moderately  long  and 
pointed ;  tail,  shorter  than  wing,  notched. 

Color. — .Adult  Male  in  Summer:  Back,  shoulders, 
wings,  and  tail,  black  ;  back  sometimes  slightly  mi.xed 
with  yellow ;  posterior  row  of  lesser  wing-coverts, 
middle  coverts,  broad  tips  to  outer  webs  of  greater 
coverts,  rump,  upper  tail-cover's,  hindneck,  and  under 
parts  of  body,  ye'low.  the  tips  to  greater  wing-coverts, 
usually  paler  yellow,  sometimes  whitish,  and  the  hind- 
neck,  sometimes  tinged  with  red ;  head,  crimson,  paler 
on  throat ;  under  wing-coverts,  light  yellow ;  bill,  dull 
wax-yellowish;  iris,  brown.  Adult  Male  in  Winter; 
Similar  to  the  summer  male  but  with  head  yellow  (or 
but  slightly  tinged  with  red),  obscured  on  back  of  head 
and  hindneck  with  olive-greenish  or  dusky  tips  to  the 
feathers;  feathers  of  back,  usually  margined  with  yel- 
lowish-olive ;  inner  wing  quills  and  the  tail  feathers 
margined  terminally  with  white  or  pale  yellow.  Adult 
Female:    Above,  olive-greenish,  the  back  and  shoulders 


tinged  with  gray,  the  rump  and  upper  tail-coverts  more 
yellowish ;  wings,  grayish  dusky  with  liglit  olive-green- 
ish edgings;  middle  coverts  broadly  tipped  with  light 
yellow  and  outer  webs  of  greater  coverts,  broadly  tipped 
with  paler  yellow  or  white,  forming  two  distinct  bands; 
tail,  grayish-brown  with  yellowish  olive-green  edgings ; 
under  parts  dull  yellowish,  the  under  tail-coverts,  clear 
canary-yellow ;  anterior  portion  of  head,  sometimes 
tinged  with  red ;  bill  and  iris  as  in  adult  male. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest:  A  flat  saucer-shaped  struc- 
ture, generally  low  down  on  horizontal  branch  of  a 
conifer  or  oak,  sometimes  30  feet  up;  constructed  of 
twigs,  grass,  and  bark  strips,  lined  with  similar  finer 
material  and  horse-hair.  Eggs:  3  or  4.  pale  bluish- 
green,  lightly  spotted  with  browns  and  purple. 

Distribution. —  Western  North  American,  from  east- 
ern base  of  Rocky  ^Mountains  to  Pacific  coast,  north- 
ward to  British  Columbia,  Athabasca,  Idaho,  Montana, 
and  southwestern  South  Dakota ;  south  in  winter  over 
greater  part  of  Mexico  to  highlands  of  Guatemala ; 
straggling  eastward  during  migration  to  more  northern 
-Atlantic  States. 


The  easterner,  seeing  for  the  first  time  the 
wonders  of  the  Pacific  slope,  hears  in  tlie  decidu- 
ous woods  a  voice  from  "  back  home."  It  is  the 
song  of  a  Tanager ;  but  when  followed  to  its 
source  the  singer  is  seen  to  be  not  the  Black- 
winged  Redbird  of  the  east,  but  a  western  bird, 
the  most  brilliant  of  them  all.  It  is  handsome 
and  striking  in  plumage  and  elegant  in  form.  The 
scarlet,  yellow,  and  black  of  the  male  are  colors 
ordinarily  associated  with  tropical  birds  and  not 
with  the  songsters  of  the  north,  but  its  lay  seems 
almost  exactly  that  of  the  scarlet  beauty  of  the 
eastern  woods. 

\Mien  the  territory  of  Louisiana,  then  an  un- 
known land,  stretched  from  the  Mississippi  to 
the  Pacific,  this,  the  most  beauteous  small  bird 
of  that  great  region,  was  called  the  Louisiana 
Tanager  ;  but  the  name  is  inappropriate  now  ;  for 
the  bird  is  only  a  rare  migrant  in  the  Louisiana 
of  to-day.  The  name  Western  Tanager  is  well 
chosen. 

This  bird  is  common  on  the  motintain  sides  of 
the  -Sierra  Nevada  in  California,  where  it  sings 
from  the  tops  of  tall  trees,  also  in  the  deciduous 
woods  in  some  of  the  river  valleys  of  Oregon, 
Washington,  and  British  Columbia.  It  is  a 
forest  bird  and  often  builds  its  nest  in  firs  or 


pines.  It  is  a  retiring  species,  although  it  can 
hardly  be  called  shy,  and  like  the  Scarlet  Tan- 
ager it  sometimes  ventures  out  of  its  forest 
fastnesses  into  the  nearby  clearings.  This  Tan- 
ager feeds  its  young  chiefly  on  insects  which  it 
is  expert  at  catching  both  on  trees  and  on  the 
wing.  Edward  Howe  Forbush. 

The  Western  Tanager,  like  the  Robin,  occa- 
sionally becomes  a  nuisance  in  the  orchard.  It 
breeds  in  the  mountainous  regions  of  California 
and  northward,  and  as  a  rule  is  not  common  in 
the  fruit-growing  sections.  There  are,  however, 
times  during  migration  when  it  fairly  swarms  in 
some  of  the  fruit-raising  regions,  and  unfortu- 
nately this  sometimes  happens  just  at  the  time 
when  the  cherry  crop  is  ripening.  The  bird  is 
a  late  breeder  and  does  not  seem  to  care  to  get 
to  its  nesting  ground  before  the  last  of  June  or 
early  July.  It  is  thus  enabled  to  begin  in  the 
southern  part  of  the  State  when  cherries  are 
ripening  there,  and  leisurely  follow  the  ripening 
fruit  northward.  The  Tanagers  are  in  Cali- 
fornia every  year,  and  every  year  they  migrate 
to  their  nesting  grounds  in  spring  and  return  in 
fall,  but  only  at  long  intervals  do  they  swarm  in 
prodigious   numbers.      Evidently   the    migration 


TANAGERS 


ordinarily  takes  place  along  the  mountains  where 
the  birds  are  not  noticed.  It  is  possible  that  in 
some  years  the  mountain  region  lacks  the  requi- 
site food,  and  so  the  migrating  birds  are  obliged 
to  descend  into  the  valleys.  This  would  seem  to 
be  the  most  plausible  explanation  of  the  occur- 
rence —  that  is,  that  the  usual  line  of  migration 
is  along  the  Sierra  Nevada,  but  some  years,  ow- 
ing to  scarcity  of  food,  or  other  cause,  the  flight 
is  forced  farther  west  into  the  Coast  ranges, 
where  the  birds  find  the  ripening  cherries.  As, 
under  ordinary  circumstances,  the  greater  part 


of  the  food  of  this  bird  consists  of  insects,  many 
of  them  harmful,  the  Tanager  has  a  fair  claim 
to  consideration  at  the  hands  of  the  farmer  and 
even  of  the  orchardist. 

It  is  [irobable  that  means  may  be  found  to 
prevent,  at  least  in  part,  the  occasional  ravages 
of  the  Tanager  on  the  cherry  crop.  The  Tan- 
ager, like  the  Robin,  jirefers  to  swallow  fruit 
whole,  and  as  the  latter  takes  small  wild  cherries 
in  preference  to  the  larger,  cultivated  kinds 
when  both  are  equally  accessible,  it  is  probable 
that  the  Tanager  would  do  the  same. 


Drawing  by  R.  I.  B' 


WESTERN  TANAGER  ( !  m 
A  gay  mountaineer  often  found  abo 


SCARLET  TANAGER 

Piranga  erythromelas  I'icUlot 

\     II,    r,    Xumlicr   (i08       See    Color    I'l.ite   87 


Other  Names. —  Black-winged  Redbird ;  Fireliird ; 
Canada  Tanager ;  Pocket-bird  ;   Scarlet  Sparrow. 

General  Description. — Length.  7  inches.  Male :  in 
summer,  red  with  black  wings  and  tail ;  in  winter,  red 
replaced  with  yellowish-green  and  yellow.  Female: 
body,  yellowish-green  above  and  yellow  below  ;  wings 
and  tail,  brownish-gray.  Bill,  stout ;  wings,  moderately 
long  and  pointed ;  tail,  shorter  than  wing,  notched. 

Color. —  Adult  Male  in  Spring  and  Summer: 
Unifnnn  intense  (flame)  scarlet,  the  shoulders,  wings, 
anil  tail  uniform  deet>  hiaek ;  under  wing-coverts  white 
(sometimes  tinged  with  scarlet),  witli  a  broad  outer 
margin  of  black;  bill  grayish-blue  basally,  dull  yellowish 
green  terminally ;  iris,  brown ;  legs  and  feet,  pale  laven- 
der-gray or  lilaceous  grayish-blue.  Adult  Male  in 
Fall  and  Winter:  Wings  and  tail,  black  as  in  sum- 
VoL.  III.  — 7 


mer ;  rest  of  ujiper  parts,  yellowish  olive-green,  more 
yellowish  on  forehead  and  crown  ;  under  parts  yellow, 
shaded  with  olive-green  on  sides.  Adult  Fem.\le  in 
Spring  and  Summer:  Above,  yellowish  olive-green; 
wings  (except  lesser  coverts)  and  tail,  dusky  brownish 
gray  with  olive-greenish  edgings ;  under  parts  light 
yellow,  shaded  laterally  with  olive-greenish  ;  under  tail- 
coverts,  clear  canary  yellow  ;  under  wing-coverts,  gray- 
ish-white with  broad  outer  margin  of  grayish  olive- 
green  ;  bill,  horn  color ;  iris,  brown ;  legs  and  feet, 
bluish-gray  in  life.  Young  Male  in  First  Autumn: 
Similar  to  adult  female  but  yellow  of  under  parts  rather 
clearer,  and  middle  and  greater  wing-coverts  margined 
terminally  with  light  yellow;  the  black  first  appearing 
(by  middle  of  September)  on  lesser  and  middle  wing- 
coverts  and  shoulder. 


8o 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest:  On  horizontal  limb  of  low 
saplings,  generally  low  but  sometimes  40  feet  up,  in 
retired  woodlands ;  a  flat,  loosely  put  together  struc- 
ture of  stems,  roots,  and  bark  strips,  lined  with  rootlets 
and  fine  inner  bark;  some  com.posed  almost  entirely  of 
brownish  rootlets.  Eggs  :  3  to  5,  generally  4,  greenish- 
blue,  speckled  and  blotched  with  chestnut :  occasionally 
the  eggs  are  very  faintly  and  finely  spotted,  altogether 
lacking  the  usual  bold  markings. 


Distribution. —  Eastern  United  States  and  more 
southern  British  provinces,  north  to  New  Brunswick, 
Nova  Scotia,  northern  Ontario,  Manitoba;  breeding 
southward  at  least  to  Virginia,  Kentucky,  Missouri,  etc., 
(in  Allegheny  Mountains  to  South  Carolina)  ;  in  winter 
migrating  southward  to  West  Indies  and  through  Mex- 
ico, Central  America,  and  northern  South  America 
to  Bolivia  and  central  Peru ;  west,  casually  to  eastern 
Colorado  and   Wyoming ;  accidental   in   Bermudas. 


The  sudden  appearance  in  deep  woods  of  this 
remarkable  bird,  its  ahnost  dazzhngly  brilliant 
red  and  black  plumage  outlined  sharply  against 
the  dark  green  of  summer  foliage,  is  nothing  less 
than  startling  to  an  observer  whose  eye  is  sen- 
sitive to  color  contrasts.     And  if  the  observer, 


it  were  in  doubt  abotit  something.  But  perhaps 
it  realizes  that  it  doesn't  have  to  perform  or  ctit 
capers  in  order  to  attract  attention,  which  in- 
deed is  the  case.  On  the  other  hand,  it  is  only 
fair  to  add  that  the  bird  not  only  does  compara- 
tively little  posing  in  plain  sight,  but  spends  much 


Drawing  by  R.  I.  Brasher 

SCARLET  TANAGER  {\  nat.  size) 
This  gaudy  fellow  might  easily  be  mistaken  for  a  wanderer  from  the  tropic 


instead  of  being  intent  tipon  the  length  of  a 
bird's  bill  in  relation  to  that  of  its  hind  claw,  and 
the  precise  number  of  primary,  secondary,  and 
tertiary  wing-feathers  it  possesses,  is  interested 
in  bird  personalities,  as  expressed  in  various 
ways,  he  is  likely  to  count  as  a  veritable  red- 
letter  day  the  one  which  brought  him  a  glimpse 
of  this  gaudy  reminder  of  what  Natin"e  can  do 
when  she  is  in  the  mood  to  produce  striking 
effects. 

To  speak  candidly,  this  Tanager  is  usually  a 
rather  stupid  and  lifeless  bird  in  its  action.  It 
moves  abotit  with  an  air  of  being  dull-witted  or 
dazed  or,  perhaps,  bored.  ./Mso  it  has  a  char- 
_^cteristic  trick  of  peering,  with  its  head  cocked 
first  to  one  side  and  then  to  the  other,  as  though 


of  his  time  in  the  tree-tops  where  he  gives  the 
observer  only  exasperatingly  brief  glimpses  of 
his  radiant  apparel.  From  such  places  he 
sounds  most  frequently  his  characteristic  and  em- 
phatic call-note,  which  has  been  variously  trans- 
literated as  cliip-churr,  chic-burr,  and  chip-bang, 
and  also  delivers  his  complete  song.  This  is  a 
carol  not  unlike  that  of  the  Robin,  and  is  de- 
scribed by  Mr.  Burroughs  as  a  "  proud,  gor- 
geous strain,"  while  Mr.  Dawson  reduces  it  to  the 
syllables,  tcrr-qitc-c-c-ry,  zc-crvc.  pccs-croo,  be- 
zoorl  Mr.  Mathews  remarks  the  peculiarity  that 
"  every  note  is  strongly  double-toned  or  burred," 
as  though  the  bird  were  a  little  hoarse,  and  stip- 
plies  this  illuminating  analysis  of  the  song : 
"  There  is  a  lazy,  drowsy,  dozy  buzz  to  this  beau- 


Courl.-sv  ol    II.,    N-  w  Y  .fK  Slit.    Mus.Nn 


Plate  87 


All  J  iia 


TAN AGE RS 


8i 


tiful  bird's  voice  which  one  can  only  liken  to  a 
giant  musical  liuml)Ie  bee.  or  an  olil-tinic  hurdy- 
gurdy  :  the  unobtrusive  music  speaks  of  sum- 
mer's peace  and  rest,  soft  ze]:)hyrs  blowint,'  over 
sighing  pine-trees,  and  tinkling  shallows  of  wood- 
land brooks." 

There  remains  to  be  noted  the  extraordinary 
color  difference  between  the  magnificent  male 
Tanager  and  the  neutral,  even  dull,  hues  of  the 
female's  plumage,  ^^'hen  the  birds  are  seen  to- 
gether this  contrast  is  so  pronounced  that  unin- 
formed persons  are  often  incredulous  about  the 
relationship,  and  are  disposed  to  insist  that  they 
must  represent  totally  different  species. 

In  the  cool  early  spring  as  the  farmer  begins 
his  plowing  there  may  be  seen  among  the  Black- 
birds following  almost  at  his  heels  the  Black- 
winged  Redbird.  He  is  just  as  industriously 
picking    up    grubs,     ants,     ground-beetles,     and 


earthworms  as  his  comjianions.  However,  as  the 
season  ailvances,  he  shows  his  preference  for 
trees,  and  for  the  remainder  of  his  stay  with  us 
he  may  be  founrl  in  the  woods  and  orchards. 
Here  his  chief  occujiation  is  hunting  caterpillars 
and  he  has  few  superiors  in  this  work.  Leaf- 
rolling  caterpillars  he  skillfully  extracts  from  the 
rolled-up  leaves;  he  is  very  destructive  to  the 
g\-psy-nioth,  taking  all  stages  except  the  eggs. 
The  Iarv;e  of  gall-insects  and  other  injurious 
larvre  have  their  places  on  his  menu.  When 
wood-boring  and  bark-boring  beetles  and  wce- 
\ils  are  in  season,  they  form  a  considerable  pro- 
])ortion  of  his  food.  He  eats  verv  greedilv  of 
click-beetles,  leaf-eating  beetles,  and  crane-flies 
whenever  and  wherever  he  finds  them. 

The  vegetable  food  of  the  Tanager  is  seeds, 
berries,  and  small  fruits.  He  seems  to  prefer 
the  wild  varieties. 


SUMMER  TANAGER 
Piranga  rubra  rubra  {Liiiiucits) 

.\     I).    U.    Xuml.tT   i.io       See   (.'olor    I'l.Tli-   87 


Other  Names, — Redhird  ;  Summer  Redbird  :  Smootli- 
headed  Redbird  :  Bee  liird. 

General  Description. —  Length,  7'S  inches.  Male, 
red  with  grayish-brown  wings;  female,  yellowish  olive- 
green  above  and  yellow  below  with  grayisli-brown 
wings.  Bill,  stout;  wings,  moderately  long  and  pointed; 
tail,  shorter  than  wing,  notched. 

Color. —  Adult  M.vle  :  Alunu-.  /■/ui'/j  </»//  ;•<•</, 
brighter  on  crown,  rump,  and  upper  tail-coverts ;  wings 
and  primary  coverts,  grayish-brown  edged  with  dull  red  : 
under  parts,  clear,  rich  vermilion;  the  under  wing- 
coverts,  paler;  bill,  light  brownish;  iris,  brown.  Adult 
Female:  Above,  plain  yctluivish  olivc-grccn,  more  yel- 
lowish on  crown,  lower  rump,  and  upper  tail-coverts, 
the  back  and  shoulders  sometimes  tinged  with  grayish; 
primaries,  grayish-brown  with  light  yellowish  olive- 
green  edgings  ;  lores,  pale  yellowish-gray  ;  an  indistinct 
eye-ring  of  light  dull  yellow;  under  parts,  dull  yellow, 
the  under  tail-coverts  chrome-yellow ;  bill  as  in  adult 
male.  Young  Male  in  First  Autumn:  Similar  to  the 
adult  female,  but  more  richly  colored,  the  under 
tail-coverts  deep  chrome-yellow,  the  general  color  of 
upper  parts  more  ochraceous,  with  crown,  upper  tail- 
coverts,  tail,  and  ed,ges  of  primaries  tinged  with  dull 
orange. 

The  only  seasonal  fliffercnce  of  Cdlor  in  this  species 
is   the  greater   intensity   of   the   colors   in   autumn   and 


winter,  the  opposite  extreme  being  represented  in  mid- 
summer specimens.  Immature  males  arc  variously  inter- 
mediate in  plumage  between  the  plumage  of  the  adult 
female  and  that  of  the  adult  male,  the  relative  propor- 
tion of  red  and  yellowish  varying  according  to  age, 
several  years  being  required  lor  attainment  of  the  full 
plumage.  Adult  females  not  infrequently  show  touches 
nf  red,  sometimes  a  considerable  amount  of  this  color, 
but  such  females  may  be  distinguished  from  immature 
males   by   the  duller  color  of  the  red. 

Nest  and  Eggs. — Nest  :  Generally  in  deciduous  trees 
on  a  horizontal  limb  from  5  to  60  feet  up ;  so  thinly 
constructed  of  bark  strips,  rootlets,  a  few  leaves,  and 
grass  as  to  show  the  eggs  from  beneath ;  in  central 
and  southern  States  sometimes  more  comjiactly  built 
by  the  addition  of  down  and  moss.  Eggs:  3  or  4,  light 
green  inclining  to  emerald,  spotted  and  blotched  with 
sepia,  lilac,  and  brownish  purple. 

Distribution. —  Eastern  United  States  in  sunnner, 
breeding  from  the  Gulf  States  (Florida  to  eastern 
Texas)  north  to  southern  Xew  Jersey  and  southeastern 
Pennsylvania,  southern  Ohio,  central  Indiana,  central 
Illinois,  southern  Iowa,  etc. ;  casual  or  occasional  visi- 
tant north  to  Nova  Scotia,  New  Brunswick,  Maine, 
Connecticut,  Ontario,  etc.;  in  winter  south  to  llahamas. 
Cuba,  eastern  Mexico,  Central  .\merica  and  north  and 
northwestern  South  America. 


From  New  Jersey  southward  to  central  Florida  an  undergrowth  of  sinall  oaks  makes  conditions 

the  Summer  Tanager  makes  its  summer  home.  attr;ictive   for  such  liirds.     It  is  not  much  given 

It  inhabits  open  woodlands  and  is  partial  in  some  to  inhabiting  the  dense  hammocks  or  the  swamps 

sections  to  those  forests  of  yellow  pine  where  of  heavy  cypress.     It  is  not  a  jiarticularly  siiy 


S2 


BIRDS    OF   AMERICA 


l)ird,  and  in  North  Carolina  and  Virginia  it  may 
be  seen  in  many  of  the  towns  where  shade  trees 
and  orchards  are  plentiful. 

To  distinf^uish  it  from  the  Cardinal,  which  is 
seen  in  winter  quite  as  often  as  in  summer,  and 
is  often  called  "  Winter  Redbird,"  this  species 
is  known  to  many  southerners  as  "  Summer  Red- 
bird."  The  nest  is  built  well  out  on  the  horizontal 
limb  of  some  deciduous  tree,  usually  at  a  height 
of  about  fifteen  feet.  Often  the  spot  chosen  is 
directl}-  over  a  path  or  some  woodland  road. 

The  bird  has  a  pleasing  song.  Its  usual  call- 
note  is  loud-  and  clear  and  somewhat  resembles 
the  words  ivhich-a-too.     T.  Gilbert  Pe.\rson. 


Because  of  his  habit  of  eating  honeybees,  the 
Summer  Tanager  has  been  given  the  name  of- Bee 
Bird.  Otherwise  his  food  of  insects  and  fruits 
is  of  such  a  character  as  to  be  helpful  to  those 
who  depend  in  any  way  upon  forest  products. 
In  the  early  summer  many  large  beetles  and 
wasps  besides  the  bees  are  eaten  by  him  and  his 
family.  Later  he  feeds  chiefly  on  blueberries  and 
other  small  fruits. 

In  the  southwestern  part  of  the  United  States 
we  find  Cooper's  Tanager  or  Western  Summer 
Tanager  (Piraiiga  rubra  cooperi).  It  is  larger 
and  paler  than  its  eastern  congener.  It  is  es- 
pecially fond  of  the  cotton  woods. 


SWALLOWS 

Order  Passcrcs :  suborder  Oscincs:  family  Hirundinidcc 


WALLOWS  constitute  perhaps  the  best  defined  group  among  the  singing 
birds,  and  are  characterized  by  their  very  short,  flat,  triangular  bills,  large 
mouths,  extremely  long  wings  reaching  when  closed  to  or  beyond  the  end  of 
the  tail,  and  short  legs  and  weak  feet  (fitted  only  for  perching).  Their  tails 
are  never  rounded  nor  graduated  but  are  always  notched  or  forked ;  there  are 
always  twelve  feathers  in  the  tail,  the  outside  two  sometimes  being  very 
much  longer  than  the  others. 

The  plumage  of  the  Swallows  is  compact,  usually  lustrous  or  semi- 
metallic,  at  least  on  the  upper  parts;  sometimes  it  is  dull-colored  throughout. 
They  molt  but  once  a  year,  usually  in  the  fall  or  winter. 

The  family  is  cosmopolitati  and  there  are  over  one  hundred  recognized 
species  throughout  the  world.  The  warmer  countries  have  the  largest  number;  America 
is  credited  with  thirty-one  species,  all  but  one  of  which  are  peculiar  to  the  western  hemisphere. 
Most  migrating  birds  "  fly  by  night,  and  feed  by  day,"  but  the  Swallows,  as  far  as  known, 
travel  only  in  the  day-time.  At  night  they  stop  at  roosting  places  used  with  such  regularity 
as  to  be  known  as  migration  stations.  Sometimes  these  places  of  rest  are  in  trees  but  generally 
they  are  in  marshes.  They  travel  very  slowly  and  whenever  they  come  to  a  large  body  of 
water  rather  than  fly  across  it  they  will  go  around  it. 

The  Swallows  are  decidedly  birds  of  the  air,  capturing  insects  and  eating  them  while 
on  the  wing.  Most  of  their  time  is  thus  passed  in  flying,  and  this  probably  accounts  for  the 
extraordinary  development  of  their  wings. 


PURPLE  MARTIN 
Progne  subis  subis    ( Linnwus) 

A.    O.    U.    Number   6ii        See   Color    ['late   88 


Other  Names. —  Martin:  Black  Martin;  House 
Martin. 

General  Description. —  Length,  8  inches.  Plumage, 
steel-blue.  Bill,  sto.ut ;  tail,  about  Yi  length  of  wing, 
forked  for  about  '  .i  of  its  length. 


Color. —  Adult  Male:  Uniform  glossy  stccl-hlue; 
lesser  and  middle  wing-coverts  glossy  dark;  rest  of 
wings,  and  tail,  dull  black,  or  sooty-black ;  iris,  brown. 
."Xdult  Female:  Above,  much  duller  and  less  uniform 
steel-blue    than    in    adult    male ;    forehead,    sooty-gray ; 


SWALLOWS 


83 


sides  of  neck,  light-grayish,  tlie  hindneck  usually 
crossed  by  a  dull  sooty-grayish  band  or  collar,  this 
usually  indistinct;  chin,  throut.  chest,  sides,  and  flanks, 
sooty-gray;  breast,  abdomen,  and  under  tail-coverts, 
white  or  pale  grayish,  usually  streaked,  narrowly,  with 
dark  sooty -gray. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest  :  In  boxes  erected  tor  their 
use,  a  few  pair  occasionally  returning  to  primitive  con- 
ditions and  nesting  in  hollow  trees ;  nesting  material 
consisting    of     nearly    anytliing    liandy  —  leaves,     rags, 


paper,    string,    straw,    or    grass.      Eggs  :      4    to    6,    pure 
glossy-white,  unmarked. 

Distribution. —  Temperate  North  America,  except 
Pacific  coast  district ;  breeding  north  to  Mame,  New 
E^runswick,  Nova  Scotia,  northwestern  Ontario,  Mani- 
toba, Montana,  and  Idaho;  breeding  southward  to 
southern  Florida,  southern  Texas,  and  plateau  of 
Mexico;  in  winter,  from  southern  Florida  and  Mexico 
to  Venezuela  and  Brazil;  accidental  in  Bermudas  and 
British  Isles. 


Swallows  are  everywhere  in  good  repute.  (Jf 
all  the  species  the  Purple  Martin  is  undouhtedly 
the  most  popular.  Houses  are  erected  for  their 
accommodation  in  all  parts  of  the  country.  In 
some  sections  of  the  south  there  scarcely  can  be 
seen  a  negro's  cabin  but  what  has  its  Martin 
box,  or  more  often  a  number  of  gourds  swung 
from  crossed  strips  erected  on  the  top  of  a  pole. 
Like  other  Swallows,  these  birds  nest  in  colonies 
when  accommodations  are  adequate ;  thus  a 
dozen  pairs  will  sometimes  occupy  as  many 
compartments  of  a  bird-box. 

These  friends  of  the  Martins  in  the  south  do 
not  all  provide  homes  for  the  birds  from  an 
altruistic  .standpoint,  or  for  sentimental  reasons. 
Martins  defend  their  nests  with  great  tenacity, 
and  drive  from  the  neighborhood  any  Crow  or 
Hawk  that  comes  within  sight ;  they  are,  there- 
fore, cherished  as  important  guardians  of  the 
])oultry   yard. 

Their  nests  are  made  of  a  miscellaneous  col- 
lection of  sticks,  wood-stems,  feathers,  grasses, 
and  mud.  Before  the  settlement  of  the  United 
States  by  Europeans,  the  Indians  of  the  South 
encouraged  the  birds  to  come  about  their  fields 
by  putting  up  gourds  for  their  accommodation. 
This,  to  be  sure,  was  not  practiced  extensively 
enough  to  provide  homes  for  all  the  Martins  of 
the  country ;  furthermore  we  can  readily  imagine 
a  time  of  sufificient  remoteness  when  no  nesting 
devices  whatever  were  erected  for  their  use. 
The  original  nesting  places  of  the  Martin,  there- 
fore, were  such  as  nature  provided,  and  these 
we  know  were  the  hollows  of  trees.  So  de- 
pendent have  the  birds  become  on  man's  bountv, 
that  hollow  trees  are  rarely  used  by  them.  In 
the  pine  woods  on  the  edge  of  the  Everglades  of 
south  Florida,  I  have  found  Martins  breeding  in 
hollow  trees,  and  not  long  ago  I  saw  birds  simi- 


larly engaged  in  a  little  grove  on  the  border  of 
Devil's  Lake.  North  Dakota.  In  some  cities  they 
build  in  the  holes  of  buildings,  as  for  example 
in  Seattle  ;  in  other  places  vmder  the  eaves  of 
buildings,  as  in  Bismarck,  North  Dakota,  and  in 
Plant  City  and  Clearwater,  Florida. 

T.  Gilbert  Pearson. 

In  the  Pacific  Coast  region  south  into  Lower 
California  is  found  the  Western  Martin  [Propne 
suhis  Itcspcria).  The  male  is  not  distinguishable 
from  the  male  of  the  Purple  Martin ;  but  the 
female  has  the  gray  of  the  forehead  extending 
back    into    the    crown,    a    conspicuous    edge    of 


Drawing  by  R.  I.  Ur.isliir 

PURPLE  MARTIN  1  ',  nat.  size) 
A  beautiful  and  useful  bird 

grayish-brown  to  the  feathers  of  the  back  and 
rump,  and  the  under  parts  grayish-white  an- 
teriorly and  immaculate  white  posteriorly. 

The  Martins  are  ainong  the  most  beneficial  of 
birds.  Their  food  consists  almost  entirely  of 
insects  —  wasps,  bugs,  beetles,  and  flies.  Among 
the  beetles  are  the  boll-weevils,  clover-leaf  wee- 
vils, and  nut  weevils.  Locusts  are  eaten  at  all 
stages. 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


CLIFF  SWALLOW 
Petrochelidon  lunifrons  lunifrons   ( Say) 


Other  Names. —  Eave  Swallow  ;  Jug  Swallow  ;  Barn 
Swallow  ;  Mud  Swallow  ;  Republican  Swallow  ;  Crescent 
Swallow;  Rocky  Mountain  Swallow;  Moon-fronted 
Swallow. 

General  Description. —  Length,  6  inches.  Upper 
parts,  steel-blue;  under  parts,  chestnut  and  whitish. 
Bill,  very  short;  tail,  less  than  J<  length  of  wing, 
slightly  notched. 

Color. — .'\di-lts  :  FovcJicad.  dull  i^'hitc.  dull  pale 
ecru-drab  or  pale  wood  brown,  forming  a  conspicuous 
patch,  very  sharply  defined  at  rear,  its  extremities 
pointed;  crown  and  back  of  head,  glossy  blue  black; 
hindneck,  hair-brown  or  brownish-gray ;  back  and 
shoulders,  glossy  blue-black,  the  former  streaked  with 
pale  gray  or  whitish;  rump,  light  cinnauwn-rufous : 
upper  tail-coverts,  brownish-gray  or  hair-brown  with 
paler  margins ;  wings  and  tail,  dusky  grayish-brown,  the 
secondaries  with  paler  margins ;  ear,  eye,  and  cheek 
regions,  chin  and  throat,^ich  chestnut ;  a  patch  of  some- 
what glossy-black  on  lower  throat;  chest,  sides,  and 
flanks,  pale  grayish-brown,  the  first  usually  tinged  with 
pale  chestnut;  rest  of  under  parts,  whitish;  iris,  brown. 
Young  :      Much    duller    in    color    than    adults ;    crown, 


Sfc    ("olor    ri.nlc   .S.*! 

bark,  and  shoulders,  dull  blackish  or  sooty ;  forehead, 
sometimes  dull  chestnut  or  brownish,  more  often  dusky, 
like  crown  ;  sides  of  head  and  throat,  mi.xed  grayish- 
brown,  dusky,  and  dull  chestnut. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest  :  .\  cleverly  constructed 
retort-shaped  structure,  fastened  to  cliffs  or  under  eaves 
of  outbuildings  at  its  large  end  and  extending  hori- 
zontally ;  made  of  mud  pellets  mixed  with  straw  and 
lined  with  feathers.  Eggs  ;  3  to  5,  speckled  and  spotted 
with  reddish-brown  and  lilac. 

Distribution. —  Nearly  the  whole  of  North  .A.merica ; 
breeding  north  to  Nova  Scotia,  New  Brunswick,  Anti- 
costi  Island,  Province  of  Quebec,  in  the  interior  to 
Territory  of  Mackenzie  and  the  Yukon  Valley  of 
Alaska,  and  on  the  Pacific  coast  to  British  Columbia  ; 
breeding  southward  over  nearly  the  whole  of  the 
United  States  (except  Rio  Grande  valley,  at  least  above 
mouth  of  the  Pecos  River)  and  coast  district  of  north- 
western Mexico,  as  far  as  Mazatlan  and  Tepic.  In 
winter,  southward  through  Mexico  and  Central 
.America,  at  least  to  Honduras.  Said  to  occur  in  winter 
in  Brazil,  Paraguay,  Argentina,  and  other  parts  of 
South  America. 


Tlie  Cliff  Swallow  is  a  bird  of  large  colonies. 
Though  distributed  almost  all  over  North 
America  it  is  entirely  absent  in  the  breeding 
season  from  large  areas.  It  was  formerly  sup- 
posed that  it  bred  only  in  the  West  and  that 
the  advent  of  the  Caucasian  and  his  barns 
temjited  the  Cliff  Swallows  eastward  to  become 
Eave  .Swallows.  It  is  likelv  that  many  places 
in  the  western  half  of  the  continent  have  alwavs 


been  the  home  of  the  largest  colonies  of  Cliff' 
.Swallows ;  but  the  east  and  southeast  have  had 
their  scattered  colonies  of  Cliff  Swallows  both 
before  and  after  the  European  settlements  were 
made  along  the  .Atlantic  .shore. 

The  early  explorers  of  the  far  West  were  much 
impressed  by  the  enormous  collections  of  Cliff 
Swallow  mud  bottle  nests  that  were  plastered 
over    the    great    perpendicular    rocks    in    many 


CLIFF  SWALLOW  (i  nat.  size) 
Drawing  by  R.  I.  Brasher 


SWALLOWS 


I>laces.  One  very  conspicuous  jilace  where  there 
was  an  immense  colony  was  on  the  face  of  tlie 
luLjh  bkiffs  near  the  confluence  of  the  Xiobrara 
and  Missouri  rivers.  As  the  settlements  be- 
came established  in  the  northwest  the  Cliff 
Swallows  deserted  the  rocks  in  great  numbers 
and  became  residents  imder  the  eaves  cif  the 
farmers'  barns. 

They  are  unusually  interesting  birds  in  these 
large  colonies.  The  air  is  full  of  Swallows 
where  there  are  a  few  dozen  mud  bottles  along 
under  the  eaves  of  a  great  barn.  Going  ever  to 
and  fro.  in  and  out  of  the  bottle  nests,  uttering 
their  single  notes  continuously,  it  seems  indeed 
a  very  busy  place.  But  the  individual  birds  are 
not  in  as  much  of  a  hurry  as  the  collection  seems 
to  be.  Many  little  chestnut-throated  birds  will 
be  peering  out  of  their  nests,  others  leisurely  fly- 
ing backward  and  forward  in  front  of  the  nests 
as  thoitgb  the\'  were  on  inspection.  AIan_\' 
more  are  coming  in  from  far  distant  insect- 
infected  areas  with  food  for  the  voung.  Others, 
having  chattered  abotit  for  a  little  after  feeding 
the  young,  are  off  with  the  directness  of  arr(iw< 
and  are  soon  out  of  sight.  In  any  area  within 
a  few  miles  and  where  insects  breed  to  fill  the 
air,  these  Eave  .Swallows  are  up  and  down,  and 
over  and  under,  now  down  near  the  marsh  or 
water,  now  flying  high  anrl  rounrl  and  round  in 
circles ;  and  then  suddenly  off  with  arrow-like 
directness  in  the  direction  of  the  home  barn. 

When  the  young  are  ready  to  come  out  of  the 
nest  the  chattering  increases  enormouslv.  The 
young  hang  on  to  the  outside  of  the  nests  ap- 
])arently  fearful  to  try  their  wings.  Rut  once 
launched  they  soon  become  accpiainted  with  all 
the  methods  of  wheeling  and  turning,  up-^^hots 
and  down-dippings,  to  catch  the  warv  insect  on 
the  wing.  Then  the  whole  colonv  deserts  the 
eaves  in  a  few  da}s.  ( Jccasionally  a  pair  i>  de- 
layed behind  the  others  by  later  hatchings,  but  it 
is  not  many  days  before  they  are  all  gone  from 
the  neighborhood. 

The  flocks  of  Bank,  Barn,  and  Tree  Swal- 
lows absorb  these  Eave  Swallows,  and  to- 
gether they  work  to  clean  the  air  of  the  inland 
lakes  of  all  the  flies  and  mosquitoes.  They 
are  up  and  down  over  the  rivers  and  swamps  and 
wheeling  about  over  grain  fields  and  pastures 
.Sometimes  they  are  in  himdreds,  sometimes  in 
thousands,  but  always  a  good  proportion  of  these 
summer  and  fall  flocks  are  Cliff  Swallows.  Then 
if  one  goes  into  the  salt  marshes  of  the  south,  he 
will  find  tens  of  thousands  that  are  on  their  way 
for  tropical  insects  for  the  winter. 


The  Lesser  Cliff'  .Swallow  { I'ctrucliclidon  liiiii- 
f rolls  tachina)  and  the  Mexican,  or  .SwainsonV, 
Cliff'  Swallow  (Pcti-dchclidan  liniifrDiis  iiirldiui- 
tjastra)  are  inhabitants  of  Mexico  and  countries 
U.)  the  south.  Tiie  former  comes  over  the  bound- 
ary into  Texas  to  breed,  and  the  latter  visits 
Arizona  for  the  same  purjjose.  Both  are  smaller 
than  their  more  widely  distributed  relative.  The 
frontal  patch  of  the  I.esscr  Cliff  Swallow  is 
fawn  color,  dull  cinn.imon,  nr  wood  brown:  that 
of  the  Mexican  Cb'ff  Swallow  is  chestnut  or 
cinnamon-rufous. 


id/g^ 


Photo  by  P.  B.  Philipp  Courtesy  of  Nat.  Ass 

NESTS  OF  CLIFF  SWALLOWS 

Cleverly  constructed  retort-  or  bottle-shaped  i 


An  analysis  of  the  stomach  contents  of  123 
Cliff'  .Swallows  showed  about  one-third  of  i  per 
cent,  vegetable  matter;  this  included  a  few  seeds 
but  it  was  mostly  rubbish  taken  accidentally.  In 
the  animal  matter,  ants,  bees,  and  wasps, 
amounted  to  about  39  jier  cent.  Xo  worker  bees 
were  found  ;  and  as  bee-keepers  do  not  regard  the 
destruction  of  drones  as  injurious  to  the  swarms 
this  cannot  be  counted  against  the  Swallows. 
Bugs  —  assassin-bugs,  leaf-bugs,  squash-bugs, 
stink-bugs,  shield-bugs,  tree-hoppers,  leaf-hop- 
pers, and  jumping  plant-lice  —  formed  about  JJ 
per  cent.  Beetles  of  all  kinds  aggregated  a  little 
less  than  19  per  cent.;  of  these,  17  per  cent, 
were  harmful,  some  very  much  so.  Gnats, 
dragon-flies,  lace-winged  flies,  and  spiders  com- 
pleted the  menu. 

The  young  are  fed  exactly  the  same  kind  of 
food  that  their  elders  eat,  but  the  proportions 
vary.  The  soft-bodied  insects  are  more  often 
chosen  by  the  parents  for  the  nestlings  as  thev 
are  more  easily  digested.  Adult  Cliff  Swallows 
do  not  take  gravel  themselves,  but  thev  feed  it 
to  the  young. 

L.  Nel.son  Nichols. 


86 


BIRDS   OF  AMERICA 


BARN  SWALLOW 
Hirundo  erythrogastra  Boddacrt 

A.    II.    V.    Xumber   61  j        See   Color    Plate   88 


Other  Names. — American  Bam  Swallow  ;  Karii-loft 
Swallcjw  :  Fork-tailed  Swallow. 

General  Description. —  Length,  7  inches.  Upper 
parts,  steel-blue ;  under  parts,  chestnut  and  red.  Bill, 
small  and  depressed;  tail,  ^3  length  of  wing,  or  longer, 
and  forked  for  more  than  J/j  of  its  length,  the  side 
feathers  becoming  gradually  narrower  and  more  drawn 
out  to  the  outermost,  which  are  sometimes  almost 
thread-like  for  the  end  portion,  but  always  with  blunt 
tips. 

Color. — Adult  Male:  Forehead,  chestnut;  rest  of 
upper  parts,  glossy  dark  steel-blue ;  wings  and  tail, 
dusky  faintly  glossed  with  greenish,  the  middle  wing- 
coverts  and  inner  wing  quills  broadly  margined  with 
glossy  steel-blue,  the  greater  coverts  glossed  with  the 
same;  the  inner  web  of  the  tail-fcalhcrs  (except  the 
middle  pair),  zvith  a  conspicuous  ivhite  spot;  cheek 
region,  chin,  throat,  and  chest,  chestnut  or  deep  cin- 
namon-rufous, the  chest  margined  laterally  by  an  ex- 
tension of  the  glossy  steel-blue  from  sides  of  the  neck, 
these    two    lateral    jiatches    sometimes    connected,    nar- 


niwly.  and  thus  forming  a  nearly  complete  collar;  rest 
of  under  parts,  pale  cinnamon-rufous;  iris,  brown. 
Adult  Fem.^le:  Similar  to  the  adult  male  and  often 
not  distinguishable.  Young  :  Much  duller  in  color 
than  adults ;  crown  and  hindneck,  sooty-black,  much 
more  faintly  glossed  with  blue  than  back ;  forehead, 
dull  light-brownish  or  brownish-bufif. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest:  A  bowl-shaped  hemisphere, 
attached  to  barn  or  other  buildings,  timbers,  or  on  sides 
oi  caves  ;  constructed  of  mud  pellets  mixed  with  straw 
and  grass,  thickly  lined  with  feathers.  Eggs  :  3  to  6, 
white  marked  with  spots  of  bright  Indian  red.  brown, 
and  lavender. 

Distribution. —  North  America  in  general,  north  to 
Alaska,  northern  Mackenzie,  southern  Manitoba,  and 
southern  Ungava ;  breeding  southward  over  whole  of 
United  States  (  except  Florida)  ;  in  winter  from  southern 
Florida  and  southern  Mexico,  through  Central  America 
and  South  America  as  far  as  southern  Brazil,  Para- 
guay, .'\rgentina,  Bolivia,  and  Peru,  and  throughout 
West  Indies  ;  occasional  in   Bermudas. 


Like  the  Bluebird  and  the  Robin,  the  Barn 
Swallow  is  a  bird  whose  apj^earance  in  and  de- 
parture from  the  northern  reaches  of  its  range 
have  definite  seasonal  significance,  even  to  those 
who  have  no  particular  interest  in  ornithology. 
The  poets  have  had  much  to  say  about  the  bird's 
comings    and    goings.       "  When    the     .Swallows 


Homeward  Flv,"  the  English  words  of  which  are 
translated  from  the  German  of  Franz  Abt's 
song,  "  JVcnn  die  Sclizn'alhcn  heimimrts  sieh'n," 
lias  been  known  in  this  country  for  half  a  cen- 
tury, and  lias  been  sung  by  many  thousands  of 
scliool  children,  not  to  mention  yet  other  thou- 
sands of  grown-ups.     The  reference  of  course 


Drawing  by  R.  I.  Brasher 

BARN  SWALLOW  (J  nat.  size) 


SWALLOWS 


87 


is  to  thf  European  Swallow,  l)ut  that  bird 
is  very  similar  in  its  habits  to  the  American  Barn 
Swallow  and  has  about  the  same  hold  on  the 
affections  of  the  ])eople  —  especially  the  country 
people.  Like  many  another  poet's,  liowever, 
good  old  Franz's  ornithology  was  a  bit  unscien- 
tific, as  is  shown  by  the  idea  he  expressed  that 
the  Swallows  go  "  home  "  when  they  go  to  south- 
land at  the  approach  of  winter.  As  a  matter  of 
fact,  this  misapprehension  is  not  confined  to  the 
poets.  Vet,  a  little  reflection  should  make  it 
clear  that  the  "  home  "  of  a  bird  is  obviously  its 
nest,  and  that  the  home  locality  is  the  locality 
in  which  it  builds  its  nest  and  rears  its  young. 
W'hatever  mav  be  the  reason  for  the  southern 
migration  in  the  autumn  (  and  there  are  various 
explanations  of  that  movement),  the  bird  which 
breeds  in  the  north  is  no  more  going  "  home  " 
when  it  goes  south  than  a  man  who  lives  in 
New  York  goes  home  when  he  goes  to  Palm 
Beach,  Florida,  for  the  winter. 

The  Barn  Swallow's  habit  of  building  within 
barns,  or  on  sheltered  projections  from  any 
structure,  has  made  it  perhaps  the  most  domesti- 
cated of  any  of  the  wild  birds.  Indeed,  under 
these  conditions  this  Swallow  soon  comes  to 
occupy  a  position  which  seems  only  a  short  re- 
move from  that  of  the  barnyard  fowls ;  and  its 
twittering  as  it  skims  to  and  fro  from  its  nest, 
becomes  as  familiar  as  is  the  clucking  of  the 
hens,  or  the  challenge  of  their  lord  and  master, 
the  rooster  —  and  is  certainly  a  great  deal  more 
melodious  than  either.  Furthermore,  the  bird's 
habit  of  using  barns  as  building  sites  has  much 
inherent  interest  and  significance,  in  that  it  rep- 
resents a  deliberate  departure  from  its  natural 
instinct  to  build  in  caves  and  under  ledges,  where 
it  had  made  its  home  until  man  arrived  upon  the 
scene  and  furnished  better  protection  from  the 
elements  and  from  the  bird's  natural  enemies. 
A  similar  example  of  adaptiveness  is  furnished 
by  the  Cliff  Swallow  and  the  Chimney  Swift, 
and  doubtless  all  these  birds  were  prompted  to 
adopt  the  new  nesting  sites  partly  by  the  supply 
of  insects,  which  of  course  is  greater  about  barn- 
yards than  in  the  birds'  natural  habitats. 

In  a  leaflet  on  the  Barn  Swallow,  prepared  for 
the  National  Association  of  Audubon  Societies, 
Mrs.  Mabel  Osgood  Wright  discusses  the  lam- 
entable diminution  of  the  bird's  numbers  as  fol- 
lows :  "  ^^'e  associate  the  Swallow  with  comfort- 
able old-fashioned  barns,  which  had  open  rafters, 
doors  that  could  not  be  shut  tight,  and  windows 
with  many  panes  lacking.  \\'ithin  such  build- 
ings, almost  as  easy  to  get  into  and  out  of  as 
were  the  caves  and  broken  crates  to  which  thev 


resorted  before  barns  were  built,  the  Barn  Swal- 
lows used  to  nest,  sometimes  in  large  colonies, 
while  their  cousins,  the  Cliff  Swallows,  had 
quarters  beneath  the  outside  eaves  in  a  line  of 
gourd-shaped  tenements. 

"  Nowadays,  however,  in  the  more  thickly  set- 
tled and  prosperous  parts  of  the  coimtry,  these 
looselv  built  old  barns  have  given  place  to  tightly 
constructed,  neatly  painted  ones ;  thus,  as  the 
new  replaces  the  old  in  their  haunts,  many  a  pair 
of  Swallows  drop  from  their  sky-high  wooing 
to  find  closed  doors  and  tight  roofs  staring  them 
in  the  face.  So  they  move  on.  \Miither?  Out 
to  the  frontiers  or  into  the  '  hack  counties.'    This 


Photo  by  .\.  A.  .Mk-n 

BARN  SWALLOW 

Poised  at  its  nest  under  the  gable  of  a  barn.    Photographed  by 
Ught  reflected  from  a  mirror 

accounts,  in  part,  for  what  seems  to  be  rather 
than  is  a  decrease  ;  but  there  is  a  constant  and 
real  loss  of  Barn  Swallows,  according  to  reports 
from  all  parts  of  the  country,  chargeable  to  the 
English  Sparrows.  These  little  bandits  seem  to 
have  a  special  fondness  for  despoiling  the  nests 
of  Swallows  of  all  kinds,  tearing  them  to  pieces 
—  perhaps  for  the  sake  of  the  feathers  and 
other  good  materials  for  Sparrow-use  —  and  dis- 
turbing their  owners  until  the  harassed  Swal- 
lows finally  abandon  the  premises.  This  is  an 
extensive  evil ;  and  it  can  be  prevented  only 
by  our  taking  the  trouble  to  protect  our  Swallows 
against  their  feathered  enemies.  Cats  also  catch 
many  Swallows,  snatching  them  out  of  the  air  as 
they  skim  close  to  the  ground  in  pursuit  of  grass- 
moths  and  similar  low-flying  insects.  Rats  and 
mice  devour  their  eggs  and  young  to  some  extent. 
"A  third  and  sadder  reason  why  fewer  Barn 
Swallows  are  now  to  lie  seen  in  a  day's  drive 
through  the  countrv  than  used  to  delight  the 
eves  of  bird-lovers,  is  that  for  several  vears  thev 


88  BIRDS   OF  AMERICA 

were  killed  by  thousands  to  make  ornaments  for  tion  at  the  waste  of  bird-life  for  millinery  that 

women's  hats.     This  is  the  bird,  in  fact,  which  he  wrote  that  vigorous  editorial  in   1886  which 

aroused  in   the  mind   of   George  Bird   Grinnell,  immediately    led    to    the    founding    of    the    first 

then  editor  of  Forest  and  Strcniii.  such  indigna-  Audubon   Society."  Geokce  Gladden. 


TREE  SWALLOW 
Iridoprocne  bicolor  ( Jlrillot) 

A.    O.   U.    Number  1,14       See   Color   Plate  88 


Other  Names. —  White-breasted  Swallow :  Blue- 
hacked  Swallow  ;  White-bellied  Swallow :  Stump  Swal- 
low ;  Eave  Swallow. 

General  Description. —  Length,  6  inches.  Upper 
parts,    greenish    steel-blue :    under    parts,    white.      Bill, 


Drawing  by  R.  I.  Brasher 

TREE  SWALLOW  (',  nat. 


A  bird  which 


small;   tail,   not  more  than   '/2   length  of   wing,    forked, 

but  depth  of  notch   usually  less   than  'j   of   its   length, 

the  side   feathers   broad   to  near   tips  where   they   sud- 
denly contract,  the  tip  rounded. 


Color. — .^DULT  Male:  Above,  including  sides  of 
liead  and  neck,  and  lesser  wing-coverts,  unifonn  i/lossy 
lirccnish  stccl-bluc,  varying  to  bluish-green;  middle 
W'ing-coverts  dull  black,  broadly  inargined  with  glossy 
steel-blue  or  greenish;  rest  of  wings,  and  tail,  dusky,  or 
sooty-blackish,  faintly  glossed  with  greenish ;  lores, 
velvety-black ;  cheek  region  and  entire  under  parts, 
pure  'ichite:  iris,  brown.  Adult  Fem.^le:  Similar  to 
the  male,  and  sometimes  not  distinguishable,  but  usually 
duller  in  color,  the  upper  parts  less  brightly  steel-blue 
or  green,  often  dusky  grayish-brown  with  only  the  tips 
of  the  feathers  glossy-blue  or  green ;  the  rump  and 
upper  tail-coverts,  sometimes  uniform  grayish-brown; 
chest,  often  faintly  shaded  with  brownish-gray.  Young: 
Above,  including  sides  of  head  and  neck,  uniform  soft 
dark  mouse-gray,  the  wing  feathers  margined  at  the 
ends  with  brownish-white ;  beneath,  white,  usually 
shaded  across  chest  with  pale  grayish-brown. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Xest  :  In  dead  tree  trunks.  Wood- 
pecker holes,  in  the  vicinity  of  water,  or  in  boxes 
erected  for  its  use,  made  of  grasses  and  feathers. 
Eggs  :     4  to  7,  pure  white. 

Distribution. —  North  .America  in  general ;  north  to 
Alaska.  Mackenzie,  and  Ungava ;  breeding  southward 
to  Virginia,  Mississippi,  Kansas,  Colorado,  Utah, 
Nevada,  and  California;  wintering  from  South  Caro- 
Hna  (occasionally  northward  to  New  Jersey)  and  the 
Gulf  States  southward  to  the  Bahamas,  Cuba  (oc- 
casional only?)  and  over  greater  part  of  Mexico  to 
highlands  of  Guatemala ;  occasional  in  Bermudas ;  acci- 
dental in  British  Isles. 


The  Tree,  or  White-bellied,  Swallow  is  the  first 
of  the  Swallows  to  arrive  from  the  south  in  the 
spring  and  the  last  of  the  Swallows  to  leave  in 
the  fall.  Hardly  has  the  frost  gone  out  of  the 
ground  before  the  first  flight  (chiefly  adult 
males)  have  come  on  in  large  numbers.  A  month 
or  six  weeks  later  the  females  arrive.  Then  they 
choose  holes  in  trees  for  their  nesting  sites  and 
make  themselves  very  noticeable  with  their  pure 


white  under  parts.  They  may  be  commonly 
seen  all  spring  anywhere  within  a  mile  of  their 
nests.  In  the  Far  \\'est  they  are  very  common 
in  the  willow  tracts  about  the  ponds  and  mar.shes 
of  southern  California. 

The  Tree  Swallows  do  not  readily  mass  to- 
gether in  breeding  colonies.  In  fact  they  are 
very  jealous  of  their  territory,  engaging  in  fights 
in  the  spring  to  determine  which  shall  leave  the 


Courtesy  of  the  New  Y.j.k  State  MoSl-uti 


Plate  88 


CLIHF   SWALLOW     I;  tmclnluluii    hiiiifiuiix    lunifiuua    (Say) 


ROUGH-WINGED   SWALLOW 

StelgnliipUrjij-  sm  iiicniiis    (Audulmu) 

BANK  SWALLOW 
Uili'iii'i  iipnii'i    ll.innaous) 

All    %    nat.   sl7. 


TREE  SWALLOW 

Iriiloiirofttf  hicutur   iVleillot) 


SWALLOWS 


89 


neighborhood.  Dead  tree  stubs  and  rotting  up- 
turned tree  roots  in  flooded  areas  are  the  usual 
homes  of  the  Tree  Swallows.  In  some  localities 
Swallow  boxes  have  been  erected  and  arc  readily 
occupied.  English  Sparrows  are  very  apt  to  try 
to  drive  the  Swallows  out  of  the  bnxes.  Sometimes 
they  do.  but  the  human  proprietor  can  easily  dis- 
courage the  English  Sparrows.  The  Swallows 
very  readilv  learn  that  man  is  lighting  the 
Sparrows  and  have  been  been  known  to  call 
persistentlv  when  annoyed  by  English  Sparrows 
so  that  the  man  may  hear  them  and  come  to  the 
rescue. 

In  the  summer  the  Tree  Swallows  begin  col- 
lecting into  enormous  flocks  feeding  in  most  all 
northern  marshes.  In  the  salt  marshes  east  and 
west  of  New  York  city  they  are  the  most  com- 
mon Swallow  in  .\ugust.  In  September  the 
large  Tree  Swallow  flocks  mix  with  on-coming 
flocks  of  Rank,  llarn,  anrl  Clit't  Swallows,  but 
these  other  species  pass  on  to  the  South  from 
the  northern  States  early  in  October,  leaving  the 
Tree  Swallow  to  the  last.  They  in  turn  go 
south  a  few  hundred  at  a  time  leaving  a  few 
scattered  birds  even  to  the  first  of  November. 
Sometimes  Tree  Swallows  will  be  seen  north  of 
the  Carolinas  all  winter,  but  the  great  bulk  of 
them  are  spending  the  winter  in  Mexico. 

According  to  Bicknell  "  the  song  is  hardly 
more  than  a  chatter.  Its  ordinary  notes  are  les.^ 
sharp  and  rapid  than  those  of  the  Barn  .Swal- 
low." 

The  food  of  the  Tree  Swallow,  like  that  of 
other  Swallows,  consists  almost  entirely  of 
M-inged  insects.  It  would  seem  that  when  the 
first  flight  arrives  in  the  sprin,g  that  there  would 
not  be  any  of  their  particular  kind  of  food  for 
them.  To  the  few  stone-flies  which  they  find  and 
take  on  the  wing,  they  add  insects  which  thev 
pick   from   the   surface  of   the   snow,   and   from 


twigs,  fences,  and  sifles  of  buildings.  During 
migrations  and  in  the  winter  they  h;ive  a  habit 
of  roosting  in  bayberry  and  wax  m\rtle  shrubs 
and  at  those  jieriods  they  eat  a  greni  many  of  the 
berries. 


by  T.  G.  PcarsMn        C.iuitt.^y  ,.1  N:it.  Assu.  Aud.  Soc. 
NESTING   PLACE  OF   TREE  SWALLOV/ 
Heron    Island.  Mjine 


NORTHERN  VIOLET-GREEN   SWALLOW 
Tachycineta  thalassina  lepida  Mranis 

A.    O.    U.    .\uml,er   .,15 


Other  Name. —  Violet-green  Swallow. 
General  Description. —  Length,  5'4  inches.  Upper 
parts,  violet-green ;  nnder  parts,  white.  Bill,  small, 
weak,  and  much  depressed;  tail,  less  than  1/2  length  of 
wing,  forked  for  about  1/5  of  its  length,  the  side 
feathers  broad  to  near  ends,  where  the  inner  web  is 
abruptly  contracted,  the  tip  blunt- 
Color. — Ani'LT  M.m.e:     Crown  and  hindneck.  varying 


from  bro)izy-green  to  purplish-bronze,  the  lower  mar- 
gin of  the  hindneck  more  purplish,  often  forming  a 
distinct  narrow  collar;  back,  shoulders,  and  lesser  wing- 
coverts,  soft  bronzy-green,  usually  tinged  with  purple 
or  purplish-bronze;  center  portion  of  rump,  and  upper 
tail-coverts,  varying  from  bluish-.green  ( rarely l  to  rich 
violet-purple  miNed  with  bhie ;  wings  (except  lesser 
coverts)    and   tail,   blackisli,    faintly  glossed   with   blue; 


90 


BIRDS  OF  AMERICA 


ear  region,  entire  under  parts,  and  conspicuous  patch  on 
each  side  of  rump  pure  white;  under  wing-coverts  pale 
gray,  becoming  white  on  edge  of  wing;  iris,  brown. 
Adult  Female:  Afuch  duller  in  color  than  the  male; 
crown  and  hindneck,  varying  from  grayish-brown,  very 
faintly  glossed  with  bronze  or  bronzy-green,  to  decided 
greenish  or  purplish-bronze ;  ear  region  otherwise, 
similar  to  the  adult  male. 

Nest   and   Eggs. —  Nest  :      In    knot   holes,    deserted 


Woodpecker  holes,  hollow  trees,  or  beneath  house 
eaves ;  constructed  of  dried  grass,  lined  with  feathers. 
Eggs  :     4  or  5.  pure  white. 

Distribution. —  Western  North  America :  north  to 
Alaska,  east  to  Montana,  Wyoming.  Colorado,  New 
Me.xico,  and  western  Texas  —  occasionally  to  South 
Dakota;  breeding  southward  to  southern  California, 
.Arizona,  and  New  Mexico;  in  winter  south  to  high- 
lands of  Guatemala  and  Costa  Rica. 


In  Oregon,  by  the  first  week  in  March  the  first 
Violet-green,  or  White-breasted,  Swallows  have 
returned  to  their  siirnmer  homes.  For  several 
years,  I  have  watched  the  Violet-green  Swal- 
lows return  to  my  bird  houses.  There  is  no 
doubt  in  my  mind  that  the  same  birds  return  to 
the  same  places  year  after  year.  I  have  known 
this  on  account  of  peculiarities  of  birds,  their 
methods  of  building  and  the  places  they  have 
built. 

What  a  sense  of  location  the  Swallow  has ;  for 
his  journey  from  the  south  leads  him  through 
trackless  paths  of  the  unmeasured  regions  of  the 
skies,  yet  he  has  some  compass  and  sign  posts 
that  seem  to  guide  him.  T  have  often  wondered 
how,  from  his  lofty  course,  he  knows  just  when 
he   gets   back   to   his   old   home.      I   have   often 


wondered  where  he  spends  the  night.  If  it 
rains,  he  will  disappear  for  a  week  as  suddenly 
as  he  caiue.  But  the  minute  another  bright  day 
dawns,  I  know  he  will  be  down  around  my 
orchard  and  he  will  remain  till  the  summer  is 
past.  No  wonder  people  used  to  think  the  Swal- 
lows dived  into  the  mud  to  spend  the  winter ; 
they  appear  so  suddenly  and  are  away  again  so 
mysteriously. 

One  thing  that  is  necessary  to  a  Violet-green's 
nest  is  a  bed  of  feathers.  These  are  always 
handier  to  get  about  the  farm  yard.  I  generally 
keep  a  good  supply  of  these  on  hand  when  the 
Swallows  are  nesting.  Wlien  I  stand  on  the 
hillside  and  blow  up  the  feathers,  they  ask  for 
nothing  better.  The  Swallows  skim  past  and 
catch  them  before  they  touch  the  ground.  When 
the  feathers  begin  to  appear,  it  isn't  many  mo- 
ments till  half  a  dozen  Swallows  are  in  the  game. 
They  flit  back  and  forth  and  soon  become  tame 
enough  to  take  the  feathers  the  instant  they 
leave  my  hand.  Then  occasionally,  I  have  had 
a  bird  that  was  bold  enough  to  snap  a  feather 
from  my  fingers. 

In  the  western  part  of  Oregon,  the  Violet- 
green  .Swallow  formerly  nested  in  old  Wood- 
pecker holes  and  crevices  in  stumps,  or  a  knot- 
hole in  the  corner  of  a  building.     It  is  now  one 


Photo  by  W.  L.  Finley  and  H.  T.  Bohlman 

NORTHERN  VIOLET-GREEN  SWALLOW 

(nat.  sizet 


SWALLOWS 


91 


of  the  birds  that  invariably  rent  a  bird  house  if 
it  is  put  lip  about  the  garden  or  orchard.  Or 
better  still,  if  a  hole  is  cut  in  the  side  of  a  wood- 
shed and  a  box  put  on  the  inside,  it  is  almost 
sure  to  be  taken  by  a  \'iolet-green  Swallow. 
William  L.  Finley. 


The  food  habits  of  the  \'iolet-green  Swallow 
have  no  marked  peculiarities  and  are  practically 
identical  with  those  of  its  eastern  relative,  the 
Barn  Swallow.  Almost  all  of  its  food  is  insects 
and  of  these  only  3  per  cent,  can  be  reckoned  as 
useful. 


A. 


BANK  SWALLOW 
Riparia  riparia  (  Liiunciis) 

O.    U.    Numlicr   uif,       .Si-f   (dlur    I'late  88 


Other  Names. —  Sand  Swallow  :  Saml  Martin  :  I'.ank 
Martin. 

General  Description. —  Length,  sJi  inches.  Upper 
parts,  grayish-brown  ;  under  parts,  white  and  grayish- 
brown,  liill,  small,  moderately  depressed ;  tail,  about 
yi  length  of  wing,  forked  for  about  ! ,',  of  its  length. 
the  side  feathers  moderately  contracted  near  the  tips 
which   are   blunt. 

Color. —  Adults:  Above,  plain  grayish-brown;  chin, 
throat,  cheek  region,  and  under  parts  of  body,  with 
under  tail-coverts,  white,  interrupted  by  a  broad  band 
of  grayish-brown  across  dust,  continued  along  sides 
(where  fading  out  on  flanks),  the  center  portion  of 
breast  usually  with  concealed  spots  of  grayish-brown; 
iris,  brown.  Young:  Similar  to  adults,  but  feathers  of 
rump,  upper  tail-coverts,  and  inner  wing  quills  broadly 
margined  terminally  with  pale  cinnamon-buff,  pale 
wood-brown,  or  whitish,  the  wing-coverts  more  nar- 
rowly margined  with  the  same;  feathers  of  grayish- 
brown  chest-band  usually  tipped  or  margined  terminally 
with  paler;  chin  and  upper  throat  often  speckled  with 
grayish-brown,  and  white  of  under  parts  sometimes 
tinged  with  pale  rusty  or  cinnamon. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest  :  An  excavation,  made  by 
the  birds,  in  a  sand  bank,  from  a  foot  and  a  half  to 
three  feet  in  length,  the  extremity  hollowed  out  to  hold 


the    nesting    material    of    straw,    grass,    and    feathers. 
E(ii;s  :      Normally   5,   pure   white. 

Distribution, —  Northern  hemisphere ;  in  America 
breeding  from  arctic  districts  southward  to  Georgia 
(.St.  Simon's  Island),  Louisiana,  Texas,  .Arizona,  and 
nortlicrn     Mexico;     in     winter     migrating     southward 


■  R.  I,  Brjsh.T 
BANK  SWALLOW 


through  Mexico.  Central  .-\merica,  and  South  America, 
as  far  as  eastern  Peru  and  Brazil,  and  to  the  West 
Indies. 


There  are  but  few  species  of  American  birds 
that  nest  in  holes  in  the  ground  which  they 
themselves  e.xcavate.  One  is  the  Ivingfishers, 
whose  chief  representative  is  the  well-known 
bird  of  the  eastern  United  States,  and  another 
is  the  little  Bank  Swallow.  It  seems  logical  that 
birds  which  have  s(.i  queer  a  common  habit, 
should  be  in  sympathy  in  other  respects,  and  so 
it  happens  quite  naturally  that  the  big  and  brave 
and  self-reliant  fisherman  in  feathers  and  the 
timid  little  insect-hunting  Swallow  often  dig  their 


bturows  in  the  same  bank  and  seem  to  be  on  very 
good  terms. 

"  Iloncy-combed  "  is  about  the  only  adjective 
which  describes  the  appearance  of  a  bank  in 
which  a  colonv  of  these  Swallows  have  made 
their  homes.  Thoreau  recorded  seeing  fifty-nine 
luink  Swallows'  holes  within  a  space  of  twenty 
by  one  and  a  half  feet  (in  the  middle),  and 
doubtless  this  could  be  exceeded.  The  bank  may 
be  of  either  clay  or  sand  (in  fact  there  are  two 
or    three   records   of    the   birds    actually   having 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


made  use  of  banks  of  sawdust!),  and  tlif  bird 
uses  both  its  bill  and  its  claws  in  the  tunneling 
operation.  As  such  embanktnents  commonly  are 
the  result  of  the  action  of  water,  these  Swallows 
are  likely  to  be  seen  in  the  neighborhood  of 
rivers  or  ponds,  though  they  may  utilize  the 
perpendicular  surfaces  of  a  brick-yard  or  of  any 
other  excavation  left  open  to  the  sky,  even  com- 
paratively narrow  railroad  cuts.  However,  they 
seldom  show  so  decided  a  liking  for  human 
society  as  is  manifested  by  the  Barn  and  Eave 
Swallows  and  their  relative,  the  Chimney  Swift. 
The  once  quite  prevalent  theory  tliat  the  Bank- 
Swallows  hibernate  in  their  burrows  during  the 
winter  luonths  is,  of  course,  preposterous. 

The  food  of  the  Bank  Swallow  does  not  differ 
appreciably  from  that  of  the  Tree  .Swallow  with 
which  it  often  associates. 


Fhoto  by  U.  K.  .lub  Courtesy  of  Outmg  Pub.  Co. 

BANK  SWALLOW  AT  NEST 

A  hole  in  a  gravel  bank 


ROUGH-WINGED  SWALLOW 

Stelgidopteryx  serripennis  { Aiidithnn) 

A.    O.   U.   Number  617       Sec   1  olor    I'late  S8 


Other  Names. —  Bridge  Swallow  ;  Rough-wing. 

General  Description. —  Length,  5)4  inches.  Plum- 
age, grayish-brown,  |ialer  below.  Bill,  much  depressed 
and  moderately  broad ;  tail,  about  J<2  length  of  wing, 
slightly  notched.  Adult  male  with  barbs  of  outer  web 
of  outermost  primary  stiffened  and  abruptly  recurved 
at  tip,  causing  a  file-like  roughness  when  the  finger  is 
drawn  along  the  quill  from  base  toward  tip. 

Color. — Adults:  Above,  including  sides  of  head  and 
neck,  plain  grayish-brown  of  very  nearly  uniform  tone 
throughout,  but  crown  slightly  darker  than  rump;  chin, 
throat,  chest,  sides,  and  flanks,  plain  pale  grayish  hair- 
brozvn  or  brownish-gray,  the  chin  and  throat  usually 
somewhat  paler  than  chest  and  sides;  rest  of  under 
parts,  white;  iris,  brown.  Young:  Similar  to  adults, 
but  upper  parts  washed  or  overlaid  by  pale  cinnamon  or 
fawn  color ;  chin,  throat,  and  chest  tinged  witli  paler 
cinnamon  or   fawn  color. 


Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest  :  Located  in  a  burrow  in  a 
sand  bank,  usually  excavated  by  the  birds  themselves, 
wide  enough  to  admit  a  man's  arm,  and  somewhat 
broader  than  high,  and  from  3  to  5  feet  long ;  large 
and  bulky  and  usually  composed  of  sticks,  weed  stalks, 
grass,  and  leaves.  Eggs  :  3  to  7.  commonly  4  to  6. 
white. 

Distribution. —  Temperate  North  America,  Mexico, 
and  Central  America  as  far  as  Costa  Rica;  breeding 
north  to  Connecticut,  central  Massachusetts,  south- 
eastern New  York.  Ontario,  northern  Indiana,  southern 
Wisconsin,  southern  Minnesota,  North  Dakota.  Mon- 
tana, and  British  Columbia,  south  to  Georgia.  Louisi- 
ana. Texas,  etc..  and  over  greater  part  of  Mexico,  as 
far  as  State  of  Vera  Cruz ;  casual  northward  to 
northern  Michigan  and  Manitoba  ;  in  winter  southward 
through  Central  America  to  Costa  Rica,  occasionally 
wintering  on  coast  of  South  Carolina. 


ROUGH-WINGED  SWALLOW  AND  ITS  YOUNG 


of  Outing  Pub  Co. 


WAXWINGS 


93 


The  Rough-wiiigfd  Swallow  is  a  much  duller 
looking  bird  than  tiie  Eiank  Swallow,  with  which 
it  is  apt  to  be  confused.  It  is  a  slower  flying 
bird,  and  those  who  know  it  well  can  tell  its 
flight  nianv  rods  away ;  it  has  fewer  twists 
and  zigzags  and  more  gliding  and  sailing.  The 
bird  is  not  nearly  as  common  as  the  liani  nv 
Bank  or  Tree  Swallows,  though  the  area  over 
which  it  breeds  extends  from  southern  Canada 
to  central  Mexico  and  from  ocean  to  ocean. 
Thev  were  formerly  less  common  along  the 
northern  limit  of  the  range  than  now,  at  least 
it  is  presumed  thev  have  spread  further  north  ; 
even  now  southern  New  Jersey  has  more  Rough- 
wings  than  has  northern  Xew  Jersey.  Through 
central  and  western  New  York  there  has  been  a 
change  in  the  numbers  of  this  bird  from  acci- 
dental or  very  rare  to  fairly  common  in  certain 
localities. 


Their  nesting  sites  are  sometimes  like  those  of 
the  l'>ank  Swallow,  in  sand  hanks,  though  it  is 
rare  for  more  than  five  or  six  pairs  to  be  found 
in  such  a  colony.  X'ery  often,  however,  their 
nests  are  under  bridges  or  railway  trestles  or 
rdong  the  under  sides  of  jutting  walls;  they' 
have  also  been  found  in  empty  pipes  and  in  an 
old  Kingfisher's  nest. 

One  of  its  associates  is  the  Phcebe.  Their 
nests  are  sometimes  found  verv  close  to  each 
other  under  the  same  bridge.  While  Phrebe 
rushes  out  ujion  its  jirey  from  a  watching 
station.  Rough-wing  is  up  and  down  the  stream 
deliberately  capturing  all  the  insects  that  get  in 
his  way.  Occasionally  he  will  rise  into  the  air, 
going  over  instead  of  under  the  bridge,  and  some- 
times off  for  a  short  excursion  across  a  pasture 
or  a  meadow ;  but  soon  he  will  be  hack  again 
doing  police  duty  up  and  down  the  stream. 


WAXWINGS  AND  SILKY  FLYCATCHERS 

Order  Passcrcs:  suborder  Osciiics;  families  Boiiibycillidcc  and   Ptilogonatidcc 


HE  Waxwings  are  a  small  family  belonging  to  the  larger  group  of  singing  birds; 
they  are  thus  classified  because  they  possess  a  vocal  apparatus  but  they  are 
not  singers  in  the  common  acceptation  of  that  term.  They  are  found  only 
in  the  northern  hemisphere  and  there  are  but  three  species  known.  One 
of  these  is  peculiar  to  Japan  and  the  neighboring  parts  of  Asia,  another  to 
North  America,  and  a  third  is  circumpolar. 

Their  wings  are  rather  long  and  pointed;  their  tails  are  less  than  two- 
thirds  as  long  as  their  wings,  even  or  very  slightly  rounded,  with  the  coverts 
unusually  long,  especially  the  lower  which  reach  nearly  to  the  end  of  the  tail; 
the  feathers  of  the  lores  are  dense,  soft,  and  velvet-like;  there  are  no  bristles 
at  the  corners  of  the  mouth,  and  the  head  has  a  long  crest  of  soft  blended 
feathers.     The  plumage  in  general  is  soft  and  blended. 

The  prevailing  color  of  the  head,  neck,  and  body  is  a  soft  fawn  hue  or  wine-color 
changing  to  ashy  on  the  rump  and  upper  tail-coverts.  The  wings  and  tail  are  slaty,  the 
tail  being  sharplj'  tipped  with  yellow  or  red  preceded  by  blackish.  Two  of  the  species 
have  horny  drop-shaped  tips  to  the  secondaries  which  resemble  sealing  wax.  Some  of  the 
birds  lack  these  red  tips  and  have  other  variations  from  the  norinal  coloration.  Concerning 
this  imperfect  plumage  Dr.  Ridgway  says:  "  I  am  at  a  loss  for  a  satisfactory  name  for 
this  plumage  or  an  explanation  of  its  true  meaning.  It  is  obviously  quite  independent  of 
sex;  and  that  it  has  nothing  to  do  with  the  age  of  the  specimen,  or  at  least  is  not  evidence 
of  immature  age,  is  almost  equally  certain.  The  only  very  young  specimen  of  the  present 
species  that  I  have  seen  has  the  remiges  [quill  feathers  of  wing]  and  rectrices  [tail-feathers] 
colored  exactly  as  in  the  brightly  colored  plumage  described  above,  except  that  the  wax-like 
appendages  to  the  secondaries  are  smaller.  As  a  rule  young  birds  of  B.  ccdronim  [Cedar 
Waxwing]  in  the  streaked  plumage  of  the  first  summer  lack  the  red  appendages  to  the 
secondaries,  but  sometimes  they  are  present,  and  the  tail-band  is  usually  quite  as  bright 
yellow  as  in  adults;  therefore  it  would  seem  that  these  two  styles  of  plumage  occur  both 


94 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


among  fully  adult  and  very  young  birds."  The  young  are  much  duller  than  the  adults 
and  have  the  under  parts  streaked  with  brownish  or  dull  grayish  on  a  whitish  ground. 

The  nests  are  bulky  and  are  built  in  trees.  They  are  constructed  of  small  twigs, 
rootlets,  and  the  like,  mixed  and  lined  with  feathers  and  other  soft  materials.  The  eggs, 
3  to  5  in  number,  are  pale  dull  bluish  or  pale  purplish-gray  spotted  and  dotted  with  dark 
brown,  black,  and  purplish.     The  young  are  cared  for  in  the  nest. 

The  Waxwings  live  among  the  trees  and  feed  on  berries,  fruits,  and  insects. 

Closely  allied  to  the  Waxwings  are  the  Silky  Flycatchers,  a  family  that  is  peculiar  to 
Central  America  and  Mexico  and  which  contains  but  four  species.  Of  these  only  one 
extends  its  range  into  the  United  States.  This  is  the  Phainopepla.  The  Silky  Flycatchers 
differ  from  the  Waxwings  in  their  rounded  wings,  the  well-developed  bristles  at  the  corners 
of  the  mouth,  and  the  wholly  exposed  nostrils.     Their  habits,  however,  are  very  similar. 


CEDAR  WAXWING 
Bombycilla  cedrorum  Vicillot 

A.   O.    U.    Number  619       Sec  Color   I'late  89 


Other  Names. —  Cherry  Bird  ;  Cedar  Bird  ;  Southern 
Waxwing;  Carolina  Waxwing:  Canada  Robin;  Re- 
collet. 

General  Description. —  Length,  7'4  inches.  Plum- 
age of  perfectly  blended  colors,  the  effect  being  a 
pinkish  grayish-brown  with  yellow  on  abdomen  and 
tip  of  tail. 

Color. — Adults  in  Perfect  Plumage:  Lores  and 
wedge-shaped  patch  back  of  eye  (connected  with  loral 
area  above  eye),  velvety  black;  chin,  dull  black;  rest 
of  head,  together  with  neck  and  chest,  soft  pinkish 
wood-brown  or  brownish-fawn  color,  darker  on  throat, 
where  shading  into  the  black  or  dusky  of  chin,  slightly 
duller  or  grayer  on  hindneck ;  front  portion  of  cheek 
region  and  a  narrow  line  (sometimes  obsolete)  sepa- 
rating the  brown  of  forehead  from  the  black  of  lores, 
white;  back  and  shoulders  similar  in  color  to  hindneck 
but  slightly  grayer,  the  wing-coverts  still  grayer ; 
secondaries  and  primary  coverts  slate-gray,  the  first 
with  terminal  appendages  (flattened  and  expanded  pro- 
longations of  the  shaft)  of  scarlet,  resembling  red 
sealing  wax;  primaries,  darker  (slate  color),  edged 
with  paler  gray ;  rump,  upper  tail-coverts,  and  basal 
portion  of  tail,  paler  gray  than  secondaries,  deepening 
toward  end  of  tail  into  blackish-slate  or  slate-black, 
the  tail  tipped  with  a  sharply  defined  band  of  lemon  or 
chrome  yellow ;  vinaceous-brown  color  of  chest  passing 
into  a  slightly  paler  and  duller  hue  on  breast  and  front 
portion  of  sides,  and  this  into  light  yellowish-olive  or 
dull  olive-yellowish  on  flanks  and  back  portion  of  sides  ; 
the  abdomen,  similar  but  paler  (sometimes  nearly 
white);  bill,  black;  iris,  brown;  legs  and  feet,  black. 
Imperfect  plumage:  Similar  to  the  perfect  plumage, 
as  described  above,  but  without  red  wax-like  append- 
ages to  secondaries,  and  yellow  band  across  tip  of 
tail  narrower  and  paler  yellow. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest:  Generally  in  an  orchard, 
within  20  feet  of  the  ground;  rather  bulky,  constructed 


of  twigs,  leaves,  grasses,  strips  of  bark,  twine,  paper, 
and  rags ;  lined  with  fine  grass,  horse-hair,  or  wool. 
Eggs  :  3  to  5,  bluish-gray  to  dull  olive,  marked  with 
spots  and  blotches  of  sepia  and  dark  purple. 

Distribution. — Temperate  North  America  in  general ; 
breeding  from  Virginia,  western  North  Carolina,  Ken- 


Drawing  by  R.  I.  Brasher 

CEDAR  WAXWING  (J  nat.  size) 

polite  as  he  is 

tucky,  Kansas,  New  Mexico  and  Arizona  (in  moun- 
tains), and  Oregon,  northward  to  Prince  Edward  Island, 
southern  shores  of  Hudson  Bay,  Manitoba,  Saskatche- 
wan, and  British  Columbia;  wintering  in  whole  of 
United  States  (in  wooded  districts),  and  migrating 
southward  to  Bahamas,  Cuba,  Little  Cayman,  and 
Jamaica,  in  West  Indies,  and  through  Mexico  and 
Central  America  to  highlands  of  Costa  Rica ;  accidental 
in  Bermudas  and  British  Isles. 


Court.ny  of    tht  New  York  Stat.-  Mus. 


Plate  89 


^oiu:  Q^a.^(:^  J^ITT, 


BOHEMIAN  WAXWING     Bomhynlla  yarrutu  (Linnaeus) 
CEDAR  WAXWING     liu,„hi/c{lla  rtihorum  \-i<.iIi  "'"^ 

All  5  nat.  size  "*'-^ 


WAX  WINGS 


95 


BOHEMIAN  WAXWING 

Bombycilla  garrula  {Liiiiuciis} 

\     II.   L',    XumlKr  1. 18      Sec  Color   Thitc  So 


Other  Names. —  Black-throated  Waxwiiis;  ;  Lapland 
Waxwing;  Silktail. 

General  Description. —  Length,  7".-  inche'^.  Pluni- 
ase  of  perfectly  blended  colors,  the  general  effect  being 
a  soft  drab. 

Color. —  .^DfLTS  IN  Perfect  Plumage:  General  color, 
soft  drab,  becoming  more  wine-colored  forward,  more 
grayish  (pale  grayish  drab  or  drab-gray)  on  abdomen, 
sides  and  flanks,  the  rump  and  upper  tail-coverts, 
nearly  pure  gray,  forehead,  region  over  eye,  middle 
portion  of  cheeks,  and  under  tail-covcrts,  cinnamon- 
rufous:  lores,  streak  behind  the  eyes,  chin,  and  upper 
throat  velvety  black  ;  lower  abdomen  and  anal  region, 
pale  yellowish  or  yellowish-white;  secondaries,  slate- 
gray,  darker  on  inner  webs,  their  outer  webs  broadly 
tipped  with  white  and  the  shaft  of  each  prolonged  into 
an  expanded  tear-shaped  or  linear  flattened  glossy 
appendage  resembling  red  sealing  wax ;  primary 
coverts  and  primaries,  blackish  slate  or  slate-black, 
narrowly  edged  with  slate-gray,  the  tirst  broadly  tipped 


on  lioth  webs  with  white;  primaries  with  end  portion 
oi  outer  web  sometimes  witli  a  narrow  terminal  margin 
of  yellow  or  yellow  and  white;  tail,  slate-gray  becom- 
ing darker  toward  end,  broadly  tipped  with  chrome- 
yellow  ;  bill,  black ;  iris,  brown ;  legs  and  feet,  black. 
Imperfect  i>lu.m.u;e  :  Similar  to  the  perfect  plumage, 
but  markings  on  terminal  portion  of  outer  webs  of 
primaries  entirely  white,  red  waxlike  appendages  to 
secondaries  absent,  and  terminal  band  of  tail,  much 
paler  yellow  (straw-yellow  or  pale  naples-yellow)  and 
often  iTiuch  narrower. 

Nest  and  Eggs.— Similar  to  Cedar  Waxwing's.  but 
both  larger. 

Distribution. —  Circumpolar.  Northern  parts  of 
northern  hemisphere,  breeding  in  coniferous  forests ; 
southward  in  winter,  in  North  .America  (irregularly), 
to  Connecticut.  Pennsylvania,  Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois, 
Kansas,  Colorado,  northern  California,  etc..  casually  to 
.'\rizona ;  breeding  from  Keewatin  and  .Athabasca  to 
.Alaska. 


If  bird.^  have  no  conception  of  manners,  how 
does  it  happen  that  half  a  dozen  Cedar  Wax- 
wings,  sitting  close  together  on  a  hnib  —  which 
they  often  do  —  will  pass  a  cherry  along  from 
one  to  another,  down  to  the  end  of  the  line 
and  back  again,  none  of  the  birds  making  the 
slightest  attempt  to  eat  even  part  of  the  fruit? 
This  little  episode  has  been  witnessed  and  re- 
ported by  more  than  one  thorou,ghly  responsible 
observer  of  birds.  What  does  it  mean?  If  not 
politeness  and  generositv,  then  what?  Mr.  For- 
bush  thinks  the  birds  do  it  onlv  when  thev  are 
satiated:  but  how  could  he  be  sure  of  that  condi- 
tion? Obviously  not  unless  he  killed  all  of  the 
birds  and  examined  their  stomachs,  which,  of 
course,  nothing  could  induce  him  to  do.  It  would 
be  a  sorry  way  to  prove  courtesy  and  kindness, 
and  wouldn't  prove  anything  after  all.  For 
if  the  bird  had  no  room  for  another  cherry, 
why  didn't  it  simply  drop  the  fruit  instead  of 
passing  it  along?  Let  the  bird  psychologists 
ponder  these  questions ;  for  the  bird-lover  the 
answer  is  obvious.  Besides,  he  will  have  observed 
many  other  evidences  of  a  gentle  and  afifectionate 
disposition  in  these  beautiful  creatures. 

"  Who  can  describe  the  marvelous  beauty  and 

elegance  of  this  bird?"  asks  Mr.  Forbnsh  in  an 

Educational    Leaflet    written    for    the    National 

Association  of  .'\udubon  Societies.    "  What  other 

Vol.  III.— 8 


/insj  by  R.  Brurt-  Horsfall 

BOHEMIAN  WAXWING  (!  nat.  size) 
A  bird  of  satiny  plumage  and  elegance 


96 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


is  dressed  in  a  robe  of  sucli  delicate  and  silky 
texture?  Those  shades  of  blending  beauty, 
velvety  black,  brightening  into  fawn,  melting 
browns,    shifting    saffrons,    quaker    drabs,  pale 


Photo  by  H.  K.  JmI.  Courtesy  of  Uutini;  Pub. 

YOUNG  CEDAR  WAXWINGS 

blue,  and  slate  with  trimmings  of  white  and 
golden  yellow,  and  the  little  red  appendage.;  on 
the  wing,  not  found  in  any  other  family  of  birds 
—  all,  combined  with  its  graceful  form,  give 
the  bird  an  appearance  of  elegance  and  distinc- 
tion peculiarly  its  own.  Its  mobile,  erectile 
crest  expresses  every  emotion.  When  lying 
loose  and  low  upon  the  head,  it  signifies  ease  and 
comfort.  Excitement  or  surprise  erect  it  at  once, 
and  in  fear  it  is  pres  ed  flat. 

"  In  1908,  some  fruit-growers  in  \'crmont 
introduced  into  the  Assembly  a  bill  framed  to 
allow  them  to  shoot  Cedar  W'axwings.  This 
bill  was  pushed  with  such  vigor  that  it  passed 
the  House  in  spite  of  all  the  arguments  that 
could  be  advanced  regarding  the  usefulness  of 
the  birds.  In  the  Senate,  however,  these  argu- 
ments were  drop]ied,  and  the  senators  were 
shown  mounted  specimens  of  the  bird.  That 
was  enough  ;  its  beauty  conquered  and  the  bill 
was  defeated." 

"  Like  some  other  plumji  and  well-fed  person- 
ages," continues  Mr.  Forbush,  "  the  Cedar  Wax- 
wing  is  good-natured,  happy,  tender-hearted, 
fffectionate  and  blessed  with  a  good  disposition. 
It  is  fond  of  good  company.  When  the  nesting- 
season  is  past,  each  harmonious  little  family 
joins  with  others  imtil  the  flock  may  number 
from  thirty  to  sixty  individuals.  They  fly  in 
close  order,  and  keep  well  together  through  the 
winter  and  spring  until  the  nesting-season  again 


arrives.  Their  manner  of  flight  is  rarely  sur- 
passed. Often  they  suddenly  wheel  as  if  at 
command  and  plunge  swiftly  downward,  alight- 
ing in  a  compact  band  on  the  top  of  some  leafless 
tree.  They  roam  over  the  covmtry  like  the  Pas- 
senger Pigeon,  never  stopping  long  except  where 
food  is  abundant.  \\'hen  hunting  for  caterpillars 
in  the  trees,  tliey  sometimes  climb  about  like 
little  Parrots.  They  often  show  their  affectionate 
disposition  by  '  billing,'  and  by  dressing  one 
.'mother's  plumage  as  they  sit  in  a  row." 

The  \\  axwings  well  illustrate  the  rule  ( to 
which,  however,  there  are  a  few  exceptions) 
that  birds  with  conspicuous  or  strikingly  beautiful 
plumage  are  rarely  good  singers,  for  their  vocal 
capacities  are  limited  to  a  faint  sibilant  note 
uttered  both  when  the  bird  is  in  flight  and  at  rest. 
Mr.  Brewster  records  hearing  the  bird  utter  a 
series  of  loud,  full  notes,  resembling  those  of  the 
Tree  Swallow,  but  these  certainly  are  not 
common. 

The  Bohemian  Waxwing  is  another  beautiful 
member  of  this  family,  and  has  habits  and  a 
disposition  similar  to  the  Cedar  Bird.  It  is  com- 
paratively rare,  however,  as  it  occurs  onlv  in  the 
upper  Mississippi  valley  and  some  of  the  moun- 
tain States  and  is  infrequently  seen  at  or  near  the 
.\tlantic  coast.  George  Gl.adden. 


Photo  by  A.  A.  Allen 

CEDAR  WAXWING 
At  its  nest  in  a  thorn  bush 

The  Cedar  Waxwing's  proverbial  fondness  for 
cherries  has  given  it  its  popular  name  ( Cherry 
Bird),  and  much  complaint  is  made  on  account  of 
the  fruit  it  eats.  Observation  shows,  however, 
that  its  depredations  are  confined  to  trees  on 
which    the    fruit    ripens    earliest,    while    later 


WAXWINGS 


97 


varieties  are  comparatively  untouched.  This  is 
probaljly  due  to  the  fact  that  when  wild  fruits 
ripen  they  are  preferred  to  cherries,  and  really 
constitute  the  bulk  of  the  diet  of  the  Cetlar  W'ax- 
wing. 

In  1 52  stomachs  examined  animal  matter 
formed  only  13  per  cent,  and  vegetable  matter  87 
per  cent.,  showing  that  the  bird  is  not  wholly  a 


fruit  eater.  With  the  exception  of  a  few  snails, 
all  the  animal  food  consisted  of  insects,  mainly 
l>cetles  —  all  but  one  more  or  less  noxious,  the 
famous  elm  leaf  beetle  being  among  the  number. 
Bark  or  scale  lice  were  found  in  several  stomachs, 
while  the  rest  of  the  animal  food  was  made  up  of 
grasshoppers,  bugs,  and  the  like.  Three  nestlings 
had  been  fed  almost  entirely  on  insects. 


PHAINOPEPLA 
Phainopepla  nitens   (Szvaiiisnn) 

A.    I>.    11.    Numlicr   I.JO 


Other    Names. —  .Silky    Flycatclier ;    Shining   Crested 


Sliinnig    I'ly-snappi 


lUack-crested    Flv- 


7'4  inches.  Male, 
olive-gray.  Crown, 
wings,     short    and 


Flyeatch 
catcher. 

General  Description. —  Lengtii 
glossy  greenish  blue-black;  femal 
crested :  bill,  short  and  broad 
rounded ;  tail,  long  and  fan-shaped. 

Color. —  Adult  M.vle:  Uniform  glossy  greenish 
blue-black;  larger  wing-coverts,  wing,  and  tail-feathers 
less  glossy  black,  edged  with  glossy  dark  greenish-blue 
or  steel-gray;  iiuier  webs  of  primaries  with  middle  por- 
tion extensively  white;  iris,  red.  Adult  Fem.^le: 
Plain  olivaceous  mouse-gray,  the  longer  feathers  of  crest, 
black  edged  with  gray ;  wings  and  tail,  dusky  ( the 
latter  nearly  black),  faintly  glossed  with  bronzy-green- 
ish ;  lesser  wing-coverts,  margined  with  gray  ;  middle 
coverts,  broadly  margined  at  the  ends  with  white,  the 
greater    coverts    edged    with    the   same,    the    primaries, 


more  narrowly  edged  with  white  or  pale  gray ;  tail- 
feathers  edged  with  deeper  gray,  becoming  white  on 
outermost  feathers ;  under  tail-coverts  broadly  mar- 
gined with  white;  inner  webs  of  primaries,  pale  brown- 
ish-gray basally  but  without  any  definite  light-colored 
area  ;  iris,  brown. 

Nest  and  Eggs, —  Nest  ;  Usually  placed  in  oaks, 
elders,  or  mesquite  trees  from  8  to  25  feet  up  ;  flat, 
saucer-shaped,  compactly  made  of  light-colored  vege- 
table substances  —  plant  fibers,  blossoms,  cottony  fibers, 
small  twigs.  Eggs  :  2  or  3,  dull  gray  or  greenish- 
white  thickly  spotted  with  brown,  black,  or  lilac. 

Distribution. —  Southwestern  United  States,  north„ 
regularly,  to  southwestern  Texas,  New  Mexico,  south- 
ern Utah,  southern  Nevada  and  southern  California, 
casually  or  irregularly  to  west-central  Nevada,  and  to> 
central  and  northern  California  ;  southward  throughout 
peninsula  of  Lower  California  and  on  Mexican  plateau. 


The  Phainopejila,  or  Shining  Crested  l"ly- 
catcher,  is  glossy  bluish-black  in  color,  with  large 
white  spots  in  the  wings,  which  show  onh-  when 
flying.  His  mate  is  brownish  gray.  They  are 
rather  slim  birds,  nearly  as  big  as  a  Catbird. 

The  Phainopepla  is  a  beautiful  fellow,  with  an 
elegant  pointed  crest,  and  plumage  shining  like 
satin.  He  sits  up  very  straight  on  his  perch, 
but  he  is  a  rather  shy  bird,  and  so  not  much 
is  known  about  his  \'\ays.  He  is  a  real  mountain 
lover,  living  on  mountains,  or  in  canons,  or  on 
the  borders  of  small  streams  of  California, 
Arizona,  and  Texas. 

As  you  see  by  one  of  his  names,  he  is  a  Flv- 
catcher.  .Sometimes  thirty  or  forty  of  them  may 
be  seen  in  a  flock,  all  engaged  in  catching  flies. 
But,  like  the  Cedar  Bird,  he  is  also  fond  of 
berries.  When  berries  are  ripe  on  the  pepper- 
trees,  he  comes  nearer  to  houses  to  feast  on  the 
beautiful  red  clusters.  The  song  of  this  bird  is 
fine,  and,  like  many  other  birds,  he  sometimes 
utters  ;i  sweet  whisper  song. 

The  nest  is  placed  on  a  branch,  not  very  high 


up  in  a  tree,  and  is  often,  perhaps  always,  made 
of  flower  stems  with  the  flowers  on,  with  fine 
strips  of  bark,  grasses,  and  plant  down. 


ving  by  R.  I.  Brasher 

PHAINOPEPLA  <;  nat,  : 


98 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


What  is  curious,  and  rare  among  birds,  the 
male  Phainopepla  insists  on  making  the  nest 
himself.  He  generally  allows  his  mate  to  come 
and  look  on,  and  greets  her  with  joyous  song, 
but  he  will  not  let  her  touch  it  till  all  is  done. 
Sometimes    he    even    drives    her    awav.      When 


all  is  ready  for  sitting,  he  lets  her  take  her 
share  of  the  work,  but  even  then  he  appears  to 
sit  as  much  as  she.  Mrs.  Bailey  found  a  party 
of  these  birds  on  some  pepper-trees,  and  to  her 
we  owe  most  of  what  we  know  of  their  habits. 
Olive  Tiiorne  Miller. 


SHRIKES 

Order  Passcrcs ;  suborder  Osciucs;  family  Laniida; 

HAT  the  Shrikes  should  be  "  song  birds,"  will  seem  incongruous  to  many  who 
know  how  they  come  by  their  popular  name  of  "Butcher  Birds."  But  they 
are  so  classified  by  systematic  ornithologists,  and  not  without  reason ;  for 
they  not  only  possess  vocal  organs,  but  some  of  the  species  actually  make 
use  of  those  organs  in  producing  a  sort  of  warbled  song.  They  are  song  birds 
of  prey.  The  Shrike  family  (Laniidcc)  have  strongly  hooked  bills;  rather 
short,  rounded  wings;  the  tail  is  nearly  as  long  as  the  wing,  or  often  longer, 
and  rounded,  graduated,  or  nearly  even,  but  never  forked;  the  plumage  is 
soft,  blended,  the  head  never  crested,  though  the  feathers  of  the  crown  are 
sometimes  rather  longer  than  usual ;  the  plumage  is  never  with  brilliant  colors 
(in  the  typical  members  of  the  group)  but  with  plain  gray,  brown,  or  rufous 
predominating,  varied  with  black  and  white  or  pale  wine-color;  the  sexes  are  usually  alike 
in  color  and  the  young  always  have  the  plumage  barred  or  transversely  streaked.  The 
range  of  the  family  includes  the  northern  hemisphere  in  general  and  portions  of  the  African 
and  Indo-Malayan  regions;  in  the  western  hemisphere  no  sj^ecies  are  found  south  of  Mexico. 
The  family  is  rather  numerously  represented  in  the  Old  World,  but  only  one  genus  and 
two  species  occur  in  America. 

The  Shrikes  are  peculiar  in  several  of  their  habits,  especially  in  their  practice  of  impaling 
insects,  small  birds,  and  small  mammals  upon  thorns.  The  purpose  of  this  curious  habit 
is  not  known  with  certainty;  but  the  most  plausible  explanation  seems  to  be  that  suggested 
by  Mr.  Seebohm  {History  of  British  Birds  and  their  Eggs)  which  is  that  the  Shrike,  not 
having  sufificiently  powerful  feet  to  hold  its  prey  while  it  is  being  torn  to  pieces,  therefore 
avails  itself  of  the  aid  of  a  thorn  (or,  in  some  case,  a  crotch)  to  hold  its  food  while  being 
eaten.  This  does  not,  however,  explain  why  the  Shrike's  victims  are  so  often  found  in  such 
positions  unmutilated,  as  if  placed  there  for  future  use  or  from  mere  cruelty. 

The  food  of  Shrikes  consists  of  the  larger  insects  (grasshoppers,  beetles,  etc.),  spiders, 
small  frogs,  and  reptiles,  and  frequently  small  birds  and  mammals,  such  as  mice  and  shrews. 
Their  favorite  position,  when  resting,  is  the  summit  of  an  isolated  small  tree  or  stake,  a 
telegraph  wire,  or  some  other  prominent  perch,  from  which  they  can  command  a  wide  view 
in  all  directions.  When  flying  from  one  resting  place  to  another  the  vShrike  sweeps  downward 
from  its  perch  and  then  pursues  an  undulating  flight  a  few  feet  above  the  surface  of  the 
ground. 

The  ordinary  notes  of  the  true  Shrikes  are  harsh,  often  grating,  but  most  of  the  species 
are  capable  of  producing  a  variety  of  sounds,  in  some  closely  approximating  a  song;  some, 
indeed,  are  possessed  of  considerable  musical  ability,  which  some  persons,  doubtless  without 
reason,  suppose  to  be  practiced  for  the  pur]50se  of  enticing  small  birds  within  their  reach. 
Their  bulky  nests  are  placed  in  thickly  branched  trees,  usually  among  thorny  twigs  or  among 
intertwining  vines,  and  are  usually  lined  with  soft  feathers ;  the  eggs,  four  to  seven  in  number, 
are  spotted  or  freckled  with  olive-brown  on  a  whitish,  bufTy,  or  pale  greenish  ground  color. 


Courtesy  of    till-  N,.w  York  State  Mu 


e  go 


ui'j ut^^fJiz.  Yuprfei 


MIGRANT  SHRIKE     iMidualudoncUmus  migrans    W.  Pain 

All  i   Mt.'Iizi! 


SHRIKES 


99 


NORTHERN  SHRIKE 

Lanius  borealis  ( "willot 


A    O.   U.    i\uml,cr  o.- 

Other  Names.— Butcher  Bird;  Winter  Butcher 
Bird;  Northern  Butcher  Bird:  Nine  Killer;  Winter 
Shrike;  Great  Northern   Shrike. 

General  Description. —  Length,  lo  inches.  Upper 
parts,  light  grayish-blue;  under  parts,  white:  wings 
and  tail,  black. 

Color. —  Above,  plain  light  bluish-gray,  changing  to 
white  on  lower  rump,  upper  tail-coverts,  shoulders,  eye- 
brow region,  and  front  portion  of  forehead:  ear  region 
black,  this  e.xtending  forward  beneath  lower  eyelid  and 
confluent  zi'ilh  a  ItUiek  spot  in  front  of  the  eye:  lores, 
gray:  wings  and  tail,  black;  secondaries  and  innermost 
primaries,  tipped  with  white  (the  latter  more  nar- 
rowly); base  of  primaries  (except  three  outermost), 
white  across  both  webs ;  showing  as  a  patch ;  outermost 
tail-feather,  white  with  a  black  spot  near  base  of  inner 
web;  second  tail-feather  with  base  and  extensive  ter- 
minal portion,  white;  remaining  tail-feathers,  tipped 
with  white ;  cheek  region  and  under  parts,  white,  the 
chest  and  sides  of  breast  marked  with  wavy  bars  of 
dusky-grayish ;  bill,  entirely  black  in  summer,  dusky 
horn  color  in  winter ;  iris,  brown  ;  legs  and  feet,  black. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest:  In  bushes  or  thorny  trees, 
princijjally  north  of  the  United  States;  a  large,  rude 
structure  of  twigs,  grasses,  leaf  and  weed  stems,  lined 
thickly  with  moss  and  feathers.  Eggs  :  4  to  0,  pale 
bluish  green,   spotted  with  brown  and  dull  purple. 

Distribution. —  Northern  North  America ;  breeds 
from  northwestern  Alaska,  northern  Mackenzie,  and 
northern  Ungava  to  the  base  of  the  Alaska  peninsula, 
central   Saskatchew'an,   southern   Ontario,  and   southern 


.■^ee   (.  iilor    I'Lite  go 

Quebec:    winters    south    to   central    Califr 
New  Ale.xico.  Texas,  Kentucky,  and  \'irg: 


rnia,   Arizona, 
nia. 


Vina  by  R-  Br 

NORTHERN  SHRIKE  ij 


The  Northern  Shrike  is  about  an  inch  longer 
than  the  Loggerhead,  but  the  habits  of  the  two 
birds  are  quite  similar,  though  in  disposition  the 
present  species  seems  to  be  the  more  savage  of 
the  two.  Its  appearance  always  causes  conster- 
nation among  the  Sparrows  and  other  small 
birds  upon  which  it  preys.  It  may  be  recognized  at 
once  by  its  strong  colors — gray,  black,  and  white. 
—  and  by  its  flight,  which  is  ]jeculiarly  heavy 
and   with   rapid   flapping.      In   the   open    it   flies 


near  the  ground,  and,  like  the  Loggerhead,  gains 
its  perch  by  a  sudden  upward  glide.  The  bird's 
song,  heard  usually  in  March  or  April,  is  a 
jumble  of  notes,  some  of  them  musical,  the  entire 
effort  suggesting  that  of  the  Catbird.  Its  call- 
notes  are  harsh  and  unpleasant. 

This  Shrike  seems  to  have  all  of  the  bad  habits 
of  its  southern  relative,  but  their  odium  is  re- 
lieved by  an  apparent  taste  for  English  Spar- 
rows. 


LOGGERHEAD  SHRIKE 

Lanius  ludovicianus  ludovicianus  Linnccus 

A    O.   U.    Number  622 


Other  Names. —  Southern  Loggerhead  Shrike ; 
.Southern  Butcher  Bird ;  Butcher  Bird ;  French  Mock- 
ingbird. 

General     Description. —  Length,    g     inches.       Upper 


parts,  gray :  under  parts,  white ;  wings  and  tail,  black. 

Color. —  Adults  :      Above,    plain    slate-gray,    darkest 

(approaching   slate-color)    on   crown,    fading  gradually 

into  paler  gray  on  upper  tail-coverts  and  into  white  on 


TOO 


BIRDS    OF   AMERICA 


outermost  shoulder  region  ;  eye  region,  ear  region,  and 
lores,  black,  forming  a  conspicuous  longitudinal  patch 
on  sides  of  head ;'  wings  and  tail,  black:  secondaries 
tipped  with  white ;  entire  under  parts,  including  cheek 
region,  white,  the  sides  and  flanks  faintly  shaded  with 
gray;  iris,  brown;  bill,  legs,  and  feet,  black.  Young: 
Above,  brownish-gray,  the  crown  and  hindneck  nar- 
rowly barred  with  narrow  lines  of  darker  gray  and 
broader  ones  of  pale  buf¥y  or  brownish-gray;  shoulders, 
lesser  and  middle  wing-coverts,  rump,  and  upper  tail- 
coverts  with  more  distinct  narrow  dusky  bars  and  with 
the   paler   bars   broader,   more   bufi^y;   chest,   sides,   and 


flanks,  pale  bufify-grayish  narrowly  barred  with  dusky ; 
bill  and   feet,  brownish  ;  otherwise  similar  to  adults. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest  :  Located  in  thorny  trees 
(hawthorns),  hedges,  or  thickets,  usually  within  lo  feet 
of  ground;  a  large,  carelessly  constructed  atfair  of  corn 
stalks,  weed  stems,  coarse  grass,  roots,  paper,  and  wool 
and  thickly  lined  with  feathers,  hair,  or  wool.  Eggs  : 
5  to  7,  grayish  or  creamy-white,  thickly  and  evenly 
spotted  and  blotched  with  dull  browns  and  lavender. 

Distribution. —  Coast  district  of  South  Carolina  and 
Georgia  to  southern  Florida  and  westward  over  the 
coastal  plain  of  the  Gulf  States  to  Louisiana. 


The  Loggerhead  Shrike  is  the  common  Shrike 
of  the  southeastern  States,  and  over  wide  regions 
of  its  range  it  is  a  very  abundant  species.  These 
■"  French  Mockingbirds,"  as  they  are  sometimes 
called,  somewhat  resemble  the  famous  songster 
in  size  and  color,  but  they  are  very  different 
individuals  in  habits.  When  seen  the  Logger- 
head is  usually  occupying  a  perch  on  the  top  of 
some  small  tree,  stake,  telephone  pole,  or  fence 
post.  From  this  lookout  it  will  fly  down  now 
and  then  and  seize  the  grasshopper,  lizard,  or 
baby  snake,  which  its  sharp  eyes  have  detected 
in  the  grass  often  at  a  distance  of  lOO  feet  or 
more.  In  common  with  other  Shrikes  it  possesses 
the  habit  of  iinpaling  on  thorns  or  barbed  wire 
such  objects  of  food  as  it  has  no  immediate 
use  for.  My  observations  have  led  me  to  believe 
that  it  rarely  returns  to  eat  what  it  has  thus 
cached,  unless  driven  to  do  so  by  hunger  re- 
sulting from  adverse  fortunes  of  the  chase. 
Undoubtedly  the  Loggerhead  at  times  pushes  its 
prey  on  a  thorn  to  help  hold  it  while  eating. 
I  once  watched  one  impale  a  Chipping  Sparrow 
on  the  sharp  splinter  of  a  broken  tree  and  pro- 
ceed to  eat  it  then  and  there. 

When  approaching  its  nest  this  bird  flies 
rapidly  with  quickly  beating  wings  in  a  strai,ght 
line,  often  sinking  to  within  a  few  feet  of  the 
ground  until  close  to  the  tree,  when  with  a  sharp 
upward  turn  it  will  climb  the  invisible  ladder 
of  the  air  to  its  nest.  This  structtire  is  an 
exceedingly  compact  affair  and  often  contains  a 
thick  lining  of  chicken  feathers.  The  birds  make 
a  great  outcry  when  one  disturbs  the  nest,  and 
will  pop  their  bills  in  a  manner  that  suggests  the 
grinding  of  teeth  in  ra.ge. 

In  the  spring  the  Loggerhead  Shrike  often 
sings,  but  of  all  singing  birds  its  musical  produc- 
tion is  about  the  poorest.  It  consists  of  a  series 
of  squeaky  whistles,  strangling  gurgles,  and  high 
pitched  pipiiigs,  all  apparently  produced  with  the 
greatest  effort  and  labor.  The  notes  are  not 
loud    and    usually    can   be    heard    only    a    short 


distance.  There  seems  to  be  no  evidence,  how- 
ever, to  indicate  that  the  song  does  not  produce 
the  effect  for  which  it  is  probably  designed  —  that 
is,  discomforting  its  rival  and  giving  joy  to  the 
lady  bird  of  its  choice.       T.  Gilbert  Pearson. 

There  has  been  so  luuch  discttssion  of  the 
Shrike's  habits  and  diet  that  the  following  obser- 
vations, concerning  a  captive  Loggerhead,  by  Dr. 
Sylvester  D.  Judd,  of  the  United  States  Biologi- 
cal Survey,  recorded  in-  his  Birds  of  a  Maryland 
Farm,  are  both  valuable  and  interesting: 

"  The  habit  the  bird  has  of  impaling  prey  has 
been  the  subject  of  considerable  speculation,  some 
writers  maintaining  that  it  gibbets  its  victims 
alive  for  the  pleasure  of  watching  their  death 
struggles,  and  others  that  it  slaughters  more  game 
at  a  time  than  it  can  eat  and  hangs  up  the  surplus 
to  provide  against  a  time  of  want.  This  theory 
of  prudent  foresight  may  explain  why  it  kills 
more  gaine  than  it  can  eat,  but,  as  the  experi- 
ments showed,  it  does  not  touch  the  real  reason 
why  it  impales  its  prey. 

"  On  the  day  after  the  Shrike  in  question  was 
captured  a  dead  mouse  was  offered  it.  The 
Shrike  raised  its  wings,  moved  its  tail  up  and 
down  petulantly  after  the  manner  of  the  Phdbe, 
and  then  seized  the  movise  and  dragged  it  about 
for  several  minutes,  trying  to  wedge  it  into  first 
one  and  then  another  corner  of  the  cage.  Failing 
in  this  effort,  it  tried  to  impale  the  mouse  on  the 
blunt  broken  end  of  branch  that  had  been  placed 
in  the  cage  for  a  perch,  but  the  body  fell  to  the 
floor.  Then  it  tried  to  hold  the  mouse  with  its 
feet  and  tear  it  to  pieces,  but  its  feet  were  too 
weak.  A  nail  was  now  driven  into  the  cage  so 
as  to  expose  the  point.  Immediately  the  Shrike 
impaled  its  prey,  fixing  it  firmly,  and  then  fell 
to  tearing  and  eating  ravenously.  Several  days 
later  the  nail  was  removed  and  a  piece  of  beef 
was  given  to  the  Shrike.  By  dint  of  hard  work 
it  managed  to  hold  the  beef  with  its  feet,  so  that 
it  could  bite  off  pieces :  but  it  much  preferred  to 


SHRIKEvS 


101 


have  me  do  the  holding,  when  it  would  perch  on 
my  wrist  and  pull  off  mouthfuls  in  rapid  succes- 
sion. These  experiments  indicate  that  the  Shrike 
is  unable  to  tear  to  pieces  food  that  is  not  securely 
fixed.  Hawks  can  grip  their  food  with  their 
powerful  talons  and  then  easily  tear  it  into 
pieces  small  enough  to  be  swallowed,  but  the 
Shrike's  feet  have  not  a  sufficiently  vigorous 
clutch  to  permit  this  method. 

"  A  series  of  experiments  in  feeding  insects  tc_i 
this  Shrike  was  also  carried  out.  If  the  liird 
was  very  hungry  it  did  not  impale  insects.  When 
offered  a  grasshopper  at  such  times,  it  would 
clutch  it  with  one  foot,  and,  resting  the  bend  of 
its  leg  on  the  perch,  bite  off  mouthfuls  and 
swallow  them.  W'hen  not  very  hungry  it  impaled 
grasshoppers  and  caterpillars.  Such  prey  as  the 
thousand-legs,  centipedes,  house  flies,  and  blow- 
flies, and  in  a  single  instance,  a  mourning-cloak 
butterfly,  it  ate  at  a  single  gulp,  but  very  large 
insects,  such  as  tuniblebugs,  it  always  im- 
paled.   .    .    . 

"A  series  of  experiments  with  mice,  birds,  and 
other  vertebrates  was  also  made.  When  a  live 
mouse  was  placed  in  the  cage  the  Shrike  gave 
chase,  half  running,  half  flying.  It  soon  caught 
the  animal  by  the  loose  skin  of  the  back,  but 
quickly  let  go  because  the  little  rodent  turned  on 
it  savagely.  In  the  next  attack  it  seized  the 
mouse  by  the  back  of  the  neck  and  bit  through 
the  skull  into  the  base  of  the  brain,  causing 
instant  death.  ( A  Broad-winged  Hawk  experi- 
mented with  at  the  same  time  always  killed  its 
victims  with  its  talons,  never  touching  them  with 
its  beak  until  they  were  dead. )  A  honey-locust 
perch,  set  with  sharp  thorns  two  inches  long,  had 
been  put  into  the  Shrike's  cage,  and  on  this  it 
fixed  the  mouse,  a  thorn  entering  below  the 
shoulder  blade  and  passing  out  through  the 
breast.  Then  ( lo  a.  m.)  it  ate  the  brains.  At 
10.30  it  picked  twenty  to  thirty  mouthfuls  of  hair 
from  the  hind  quarters,  made  incisions  and  re- 
moved the  skin,  and  then  ate  the  large  muscles. 
By  1 1 .30  it  had  devoured  the  whole  body,  includ- 
ing viscera  and  skin.  Several  days  later  the 
Shrike  dispatched  a  live  English  Sparrow  about 
as  it  had  the  mouse,  and  impaled  the  carcass. 
Then  it  plucked  the  breast  and  ate  the  pectoral 
muscles,  the  lungs,  and  the  heart.  Live  snakes 
and  lizards  were  also  fed  to  the  Shrike.  A  toad 
was  put  into  the  cage,  and  it  attacked  it,  but 
soon  desisted  in  evident  distress,  caused  prob- 
ably by  the  toad's  irritating  secretions. 

"  It  disgorged  indigestible  parts  of  its  food  in 
pellets,  after  the  manner  of  Hawks  and  Owls. 
.    .    .    When    vertebrates    had   been    eaten    their 


bones  were  found  inside  the  pellet  and  the  fur, 
feathers,  or  scales  outside." 

The  Migrant,  or  Northern  Loggerhead,  Shrike 
i  Laiiiiis  liidoz'iciaiuis  iiiigraits)  is  practically 
identical  with  the  Loggerhead  in  coloration  ;  the 
gray  of  the  upper  parts  is  paler  and  the  under 
parts  are  less  jnirely  white.  In  proportions,  how- 
ever, it  is  decidedly  different:  the  bill  is  much 
smaller  and  the  tail  is  shorter  than  the  wing 
instead  of  the  other  wav  round.     It  lirecds  from 


V 


I'l'.ot,,[iy  Mrs.  i\.J    Ouusrr         C"urtr-,>ol  .  ,,.l.  A-.,,j.  Au<l.  ,-50C. 

LOGGERHEAD  SHRIKE 

When  seen,  he  is  generally  perched  on  the  top  of  some  small  tree, 
stake,  or  the  like 

northern  Minnesota,  Wisconsin,  Michigan,  south- 
ern Ontario,  southern  Quebec,  Maine,  and  New 
Brunswick  south  to  eastern  Kansas,  southern 
Illinois,  Kentucky,  western  North  Carolina,  and 
the  interior  of  Virginia.  In  the  winter  it  is  found 
from  southern  New  England  and  the  Middle 
States  south  to  Texas,  Louisiana,  and  Mississippi. 
This  Shrike  is  sometimes  known  as  the  Summer 
Butcher  Bird.     (See  Color  Plate  90.) 

Tile  White-rumped  Shrike,  or  Mouse-bird 
(  Laiiiiis  ludovicianns  cxciibitorides)  is  similar 
to  the  Migrant  .Shrike,  but  the  gray  of  the  upper 
parts  is  decidedly  paler  and  changes  abruptly  to 
while  on  the  upper  tail-coverts ;  the  white  of  the 
under  parts  is  purer:  and  in  size  it  is  a  trifle 
larger.  It  is  found  in  the  arid  districts  of  west- 
ern North  America  south  into  Mexico. 

The  California,  or  Ciambel's,  .Shrike  (  Lanius 
ludovicianns  gauibcU)    is  so   much   like  the  Mi- 


BIRDS   UF   AMERICA 


grant  Shrike  that  oftentimes  it  is  not  distinguish- 
able if  only  its  upper  parts  are  seen,  but  its  under 
parts  are  usually  either  browner  or  with  trans- 
verse bars  of  pale  gray  or  brownish-gray  on  the 
chest  and  the  sides  of  the  breast.  It  breeds  in 
the  Pacific  coast  district  from  southern  British 
Columbia  south  to  northern  Lower  California 
and  winters  south  to  Cape  San  Lucas  and  west- 
ern Mexico.  It  destroys  many  injurious  insects 
and  is  a  decidedly  beneficial  specie. 

The  Island,  or  Anthony's,  Shrike  (  Laiiins  liido- 


viciaiiHS  anthonyi)  is  the  darkest  of  the  members 
of  thit  species.  In  coloration  it  is  like  the  Log- 
gerhead Shrike,  but  the  gray  of  the  upper  parts 
is  nearly  slate-gray,  especially  on  the  crown,  and 
is  more  uniform,  the  shoulders  almost  wholly 
gray ;  the  under  parts  are  much  more  strongly 
tinged  with  gray ;  and  the  outer  tail-feathers  have 
much  less  white.  Its  range  is  limited  to  the  Santa 
Barbara  Islands  and  San  Ciemente  Island,  Cali- 
fornia, and  Santa  Margarita  Island,  Lower 
California. 


VIREOS 

Order  Passcrcs;  suborder  Oscines;  family   Vireonidcc 


IREOS  are  sometimes  called  Greenlets;  the  Latin  word  Virco  means  "  I 
am  green."  They  are  small,  active  tree-haunting  birds,  like  the  Warblers. 
They  are  mainly  insectivorous,  though  they  feed  also  on  fruits  and  berries. 
As  a  rule  they  are  fair  songsters  (they  are  classed  with  the  Oscines,  or  song 
birds),  although  some  species  are  distinguished  for  the  oddity  rather  than 
the  melody  of  their  notes.  The  wing  (which  is  typically  "  nine-primaried  ") 
is  always  longer  than  the  tail,  and  the  plumage  is  never  streaked,  barred,  or 
spotted,  even  in  the  young.  The  bill  is  variable  as  to  relative  size,  but  never 
longer  than  the  head  (usually  very  much  shorter,  often  less  than  half  as  long); 
and  is  also  vei^'  variable  as  to  relative  length,  depth,  and  breadth.  The  wing 
is  variable  but  always  longer  than  the  tail,  which  is  even,  slightly  rounded, 
double  rounded,  or  notched,  the  feathers  being  rather  narrow. 

The  coloration  of  the  family  is  decidedly  variable,  plain  olive,  whitish,  bufTy  or  yellowish 
hues  prevailing,  sometimes  with  bright  green  and  yellow,  rarely  with  blue  on  the  head; 
usually  plain  olive,  olive-green,  or  gray  above  (sometimes  relieved  by  whitish  or  yellowish 
wing  bars),  and  plain  whitish  or  yellowish  beneath. 

As  far  as  known  the  nest  is  suspended  from  a  forked  branch,  and  is  composed  of  fine 
vegetable  fibers,  mosses,  lichens  and  the  like.  The  eggs  are  white,  usually  spotted.  The 
range  of  the  family  extends  over  temperate  and  tropical  America,  except  the  Galapagos 
Archipelago.  The  family  is  peculiar  to  America,  but  chiefly  tropical,  and  is  represented 
by  about  seventy  known  species,  referable  to  eight  genera. 

The  feeding  habits  of  all  the  Vireos  are  similar.  Insect  food  is  gleaned  from  the  foliage 
of  shrubs  and  trees.  Probably  more  span  worms  and  leaf  rollers  are  destroyed  by  the 
Vireos  than  by  any  other  one  group  of  birds.  However,  they  do  not  confine  themselves 
to  these  particular  species  of  insects,  but,  if  a  plague  of  any  other  kind  occurs  within  their 
range,  they  will  eat  the  invaders  greedily. 


Other  Names. —  The  Preacher;   Red-eyed  Greenlet; 
Red-eye;  Little  Hang-nest;  Preacher  Bird. 
General    Description. —  Lengtii.   6'/<    inches.     Upper 

parts,  grayish-green  ;  under  parts,   white. 


RED-EYED  VIREO 
Vireosylva  olivacea   (Linncrus) 

A.    O.   U.   Number  624      See  Color  Plate  91 

Color. —  Adults:  Crozi')i.  plain  mouse-gray,  mar- 
gined on  the  sides  by  a  narrow  line  of  black  or  dusky: 
rest  of  upper  parts,  plain  grayish  olive-green  ;  over  the 
eye.  a  broad  stripe  of  dull  zi'hite  or  very  pale  brozimish- 


VIREOS 


103 


gray:  across  the  lores,  a  dusky  gray  streak,  becoming 
darker  at  the  front  corner  of  eye,  and  back  of  the 
eye  a  less  distinct  streak  of  dusky;  ear.  under  the  eye, 
and  cheek  regions,  pale  olive  or  pale  brownish-olive, 
passing  into  olive-greenish  on  sides  of  neck ;  under 
parts,  white,  the  sides  and  flanks  tinged  with  pale 
yellowish-olive,  the  under  tail-coverts,  tinged  with 
sulphur-yellow ;  under  wing-coverts,  pale  sulphur-yel- 
low ;  bill,  grayish-dusky  or  blackish  ;  iris,  brownish-red ; 
legs  and  feet,  grayish-blue.  Young  (First  Plumage). 
Crown,  hindneck,  back,  shoulders,  rump,  upper  tail- 
coverts,  and  lesser  wing-coverts  plain  vinaceous  brown, 
varying  from  pale  brown  to  pale  fawn  color  or  deep 
ecru-drab ;  greater  wing-coverts  edged  and  narrowly 
tipped  with  pale  olive-yellow:  under  parts  white,  the 
under  tail-coverts  and  flanks  tinged  with  sulphur- 
yellow:   sides  of  head  white  or  brownish-white. 

Nest    and    Eggs. —  Xest:      In    forks    of    smaller    or 


large  trees,  usually  within  10  feet  of  ground  but  often 
much  higher;  a  beautiful,  pensile  structure  of  finely 
woven  vegetable  fiber,  strips  of  bark,  grasses,  and  cob- 
webs and  lined  with  fine  grasses,  ornamented  exteriorly 
with  cocoons,  bits  of  wasps'  and  spiders'  nests.  Eggs: 
3  to  5,  white,  sparingly  speckled  with  reddish-brown 
and  umber. 

Distribution. —  Temperate  Xorth  America  in  .gen- 
eral, except  arid  districts  ;  north  to  Xova  Scotia,  Prince 
Edward  Island,  Keewatin,  Saskatchewan,  and  southern 
Mackenzie;  west  to  British  Columbia  (both  sides  of 
Cascade  range),  Washington.  Colorado.  Utah,  etc.; 
breeding  south  over  whole  of  wooded  region  east  of 
Rocky  Mountains  as  far  south  as  Caloosahatchee 
River,  southern  Florida,  and  as  far  west  as  Tom  Green 
county,  western  Texas ;  wintering  from  southern 
Florida  to  Bahamas,  and  through  Mexico.  Central 
.America  and   South  America,  as   far  as   Brazil. 


If  vocal  persistence  counts  for  anything,  this 
Vireo  should  certainly  be  one  of  the  very  best 
known  of  our  birds,  for  the  male  often  sings 
almost  incessantly  throughout  the  day,  with  in- 
tervals of  rarely  more  than  a  few  seconds  be- 
tween jjhrases  of  his  song.  Indeed,  the  pause 
between  the  phrases  is  so  brief  that  to  some  ears 
the  effect  has  been  that  of  a  continuous  song. 
like  the  really  connected  warble  of  the  Robin. 
To  be  sure,  the  \'ireo's  iteration  of  its  phrases 
does  slightly  suggest  the  Robin's  carol,  but  close 
attention  will  reveal  that  after  all  they  are  sepa- 
rate utterances,  and  not  parts  of  a  complete  song. 
Otherwise  one  would  be  forced  to  admit  that  the 
song  frequently  lasted  almost  literally  from  early 
morn  to  dewy  eve.  This  amazing  persistence 
has  earned  for  the  Red-eye  from  Wilson  Flagg 
the  nickname  of  "  Preacher  Bird." 

The  Red-eye's  song  ( if  indeed  it  can  properly 
be  called  a  song  at  all),  usually  consists  in  the 
ceaseless  repetition  of  two-,  three-,  or  four-note 
phrases,  one  of  which  is  delivered  with  the  de- 
clarative and  the  other  with  the  inquiring  inflec- 
tion, as  if  the  bird  were  saying  over  and  over 
again,  and  rather  petulantly,  "  Here  I  am!  Here 
I  am !  Don't  you  see  me  ?  Don't  you  hear  me  ? 
Here  I  am!  Don't  you  see  me?"  and  so  on  od 
infinitum.  Indeed,  so  anxious  is  he,  apparently, 
to  be  both  heard  and  seen,  that  occasionally  he 
will  sit  still  for  several  minutes  at  a  time  —  a 
most  unwarbler-like  trick  —  and  give  himself 
entirely  to  the  repetition  of  his  announcement  and 
inquiry,  meanwhile  facing  first  one  wav  and 
then  the  other,  as  public  speakers  do  in  address- 
ing a  big  audience  out  of  doors. 

The  Red-eye  is  frequently  selected  by  the 
female  Cowbird  as  the  victim  upon  whom  may 
be    imposed    the    parental    rcsjionsibilities    which 


she  is  too  lazy  to  discharge, 
remarkable  instance  of  this 
photographed    several    times 


Mr.  Job  records  a 
kind,  in  which  he 
a    female    Red-eve 


■  by  H.  K.  Job  Courtesy  01  Uutmg  Pub.  Co. 

RED-EYED  VIREO  ON  ITS  NEST 

solicitously  feeding  two  voracious  voung  Cow- 
birds,  after  her  own  babies  had  evidently  been 
smothered  and  thrown  out  of  the  nest  by  the 
pot-bellied  interlopers. 


104 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


Courtesy  oi  Am.  Mus.  Nat.  Hist. 


RED-EYED  VIREO  (nat.  size! 
He  has  the  manners  of  a  pubUc  speake 


PHILADELPHIA   VIREO 
Vireosylva  philadelphica  Casshi 


A.    <>.    U.    Number  Oj 

Other  Names. —  Philadelphia  Greenlet ;  Brotherly- 
love  Vireo. 

General  Description. —  Length,  5  inches.  Upper 
parts,  grayish-green  :  under  parts,  yellowish. 

Color. —  Crown,  plain  niouse-.E;ray ;  hindneck,  back, 
shoulders,  rump,  and  upper  tail-coverts,  l>lain  f/rayish 
olivc-grccn :  wings  and  tail,  dark  brownish-gray  or 
hair-brown  with  light  olive-greenish  edgings,  these 
broader  and  more  grayish  on  greater  wing-coverts ; 
lesser  and  middle  wing-coverts,  olive-gray;  a  distinct 
stripe  of  dull  whitish  over  the  eye;  a  triangular  mark 
of  dusky-gray  on  the  lores  and  a  .streak  of  the  same 
color    behind    the    eye;    ear    and    cheek    regions,    pale 


.^ce  Color   I'l.ite  91 

olive,  becoming  paler  (sometimes  whitish)  beneath  eye; 
under  parts,  mostly  dull  sulpliur  or  primrose-yellow, 
the  chin  and  abdomen  whitish,  the  yellow  deepest  on 
chest;  under  wing-coverts,  pale  primrose-yellow;  bill, 
dark  horn  color ;  iris,  brown  ;  legs  and  feet,  bluish-gray. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest;  In  fork  of  willow  or  other 
tree,  like  rest  of  the  genus.  Eggs:  4,  similar  in  size 
and  markings  to  Red-eyed  Vireo. 

Distribution. — Eastern  North  America ;  breeds  from 
northern  and  central  Alberta,  northern  Manitoba, 
northern  Ontario,  New  Brunswick,  and  Maine  to 
northern  Michigan  and  New  Hampshire;  winters  from 
Cozumel  Island  and  Guatemala  to  Veragua. 


In  its  habits,  and  especially  in  its  character- 
istic song,  the  Philadelphia  Vireo  resembles  his 
mtich  commoner  relative,  the  Red-eye,  which, 
however,  is  mtich  the  more  persistent  singer  of 
the  two.  Mr.  Brewster  notes  that  "  the  Philadel- 
phia Vireo  has,  however,  one  note  which  seems 
to  be  peculiarly  its  own,  a  very  abrupt,  double- 
svllabled  utterance  with  a  rising  inflection,  which 


comes  in  with  the  general  song  at  irregular  but 
not  infrequent  intervals."  The  popular  name 
"  Brotherly-love  Vireo  "  is,  of  course,  in  refer- 
ence to  the  use  of  the  name  Philadelphia,  rather 
than  in  recognition  of  any  marked  degree  of 
brotherly  love  displayed  by  the  bird.  The  bird 
was  discovered  by  Cassin,  near  Philadelphia,  who 
named  it  in  honor  of  that  city. 


VIREOS 


105 


WARBLING  VIREO 
Vireosylva  gilva  gilva   (I'icilloi) 

A.    O.    U.    Xumlicr   t.j,-      See   Color    VUW   91 


Other   Name. —  Warbling  Greenlet. 

General  Description. —  Length,  sJj  inches.  Upper 
parts,  greenisli-gray  ;  under  parts,  whitish. 

Color. —  Adults  :  Crown  and  hindneck,  plain  light 
mouse-gray  or  smoke-gray,  becoming  paler  on  fore- 
head; back,  shoulders,  and  lesser  wing-coverts  similar 
in  color  to  crown  but  tinged  (usually  very  faintly) 
with  olive-green ;  lower  back,  rump,  and  upper  tail- 
coverts,  light  grayish  olivc-yrccn.  or  smoke-gray  tinged 
with  olive-green;  wings  (except  lesser  coverts)  and 
tail,  deep  brownish-gray  with  pale  brownish-gray  edg- 
ings; a  stripe  of  dull  grayish-white  or  brownish-white 
over  the  eye  and  extending  considerably  beyond  it ; 
sides  of  head  and  sides  of  neck,  pale  bufify-gray  or 
pale  buflfy-brownish  ;  under  parts,  dull  white  centrally, 
passing  into  pale  buffy-olivc  or  dull  pale  huffy-ycllov.'- 
ish  on  sides  and  flanks;  under  wing-coverts,  very  pale 
primrose-yellow  or  yellowish-white  ;  bill,  horn-brown  ; 
iris,  brown;  legs  and  feet,  pale  bluish-gray.  Young 
(First  Plum.\ge):  Crown  and  hindneck,  plain  pale 
grayish-buff;   back,  shoulders,  lesser  and  middle  wing- 


coverts,  and  rump,  light  buffy -grayish  ;  wings  and  tail, 
as  in  adults,  but  greater  wing-coverts  indistinctly  tipped 
with  dull  brownish-buff  or  pale  huffy-olive;  the  stripe 
over  the  eye,  whitish  or  buffy-whitish  but  very  indis- 
tinct, the  sides  of  the  head  of  similar,  passing  into 
deeper  grayish-buffy  on  upper  part  of  ear  region  ;  under 
parts,   white. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest:  On  slender,  horizontal 
branches,  usually  high,  sometimes  in  the  extreme  top 
of  large  elms  or  other  shade  trees;  a  double  compact 
structure,  lacking  exterior  ornamentation  of  other 
species,  otherwise  built  of  similar  material.  Eggs: 
Xormally  4,  rarely  5,  spotted  with  sepia,  umber,  and 
reddish-brown. 

Distribution, —  Eastern  temperate  North  America  ; 
north  to  Nova  Scotia,  central  Ontario,  northern  Mani- 
toba, and  southeastern  Alberta,  west  to  North  Dakota, 
southeastern  Montana.  South  Dakota,  Kansas.  Okla- 
homa, and  Te.xas ;  breeding  from  the  northern  limit 
of  its  range  to  the  Gulf  States  (Florida  to  Texas); 
winter  home  unknown,  but  south  of  tlie  United  States. 


The  \\  arblintj  V'ireo  seems  to  be  especially 
fond  of  tall  shade  trees  growing  along  village 
streets,  but  as  it  works  mainly  in  the  tops  of 
the  elms,  oaks,  and  majiles,  it  is  much  less  fre- 
quently seen  than  heard.  The  sign  of  its  pres- 
ence, far  aloft,  is  a  singularly  smooth  and  run- 
ning warble,  composed  of  seven  or  eight  notes 
and  suggesting  the  song  of  the  Purple  Finch, 
than  which,  however,  it  is  much  less  hurried  and 
more  legato  in  its  exectition.  Of  its  general 
character,  J\Ir.  Mathews  says:  "Although,  note 
for  note,  the  first  phrase  of  Chopin's  wild  but 
beautiful  Iiiiproniptii  Fantasia  does  not  corre- 
spond with  this  Vireo's  song,  it  cannot  be  denied 
that  there  is  a  striking  similarity  in  the  construc- 
tion of  the  two  fragments.  Both  bits  of  music 
roll  triumphantlv  toward  a  high  note  in  a  sort  of 


spontaneous  ebullition  of  feeling,  and  there  the 
matter  ends  —  with  the  \'ireo;  but  Chopin  goes 
on,  and  his  sprightly  embroidery  of  tones  is  ulti- 
mately succeeded  by  the  substantial  form  of  a 
slow  and  dignified  melody." 

Though  this  Yireo  is  a  very  persistent  singer 
(  Ralph  HotTmann  estimates  that  he  repeats  his 
song  more  than  four  thousand  times  a  day  during 
the  breeding  season),  there  is  remarkably  little 
variation  in  the  form  and  accent  of  the  phrase. 
Almost  invariably  it  is  the  same  rippling  run, 
delivered  with  the  strongly  marked  crescendo 
which  Air,  Mathews  describes. 

In  western  North  America  there  is  a  smaller 
and  darker  form  of  this  bird,  known  as  the 
Western,  or  Swainson's,  Warbling  Vireo  {Vireo- 
.■ivht'a  t/ilra  szcainsoni) . 


YELLOW-THROATED  VIREO 

Lani vireo  flavifrons    (I'iciUot) 

\     II.    V'.    .Xumher   l.j.S       See   Color    I'l.itc   gi 


Other    Name. —  Yellow-throated    Greenlet. 

General  Description. —  Length.  6  inches.  Upper 
parts,  yellowish-olive  and  gray  :  under  parts,  yellow  and 
white. 

Color. —  Adults:     Crown,  hindneck,  and  back,  plain 


yrllmcisli-oli'L'i- :  sides  of  neck,  ear  and  cheek  regions, 
and  sides  of  chest,  plain  yellowish  olive-green;  a  stripe 
over  the  eye  and  a  spot  under  it.  front  portion  of 
cheek  region,  chin,  throat,  chest,  and  breast,  canary 
ycllozv:   abdomen,   anal   region,  and   under   tail-coverts. 


io6 


BIRDS   OF    AMERICA 


white ;  flanks,  pale  grayish ;  under  wing-coverts,  white 
tinged  with  yellow ;  lesser  wing-coverts,  shoulders, 
lower  back,  rump,  and  upper  tail-coverts,  plain  slate- 
gray;  wings  (except  lesser  coverts)  and  tail,  black; 
middle  and  greater  wing-coverts  (except  innermost), 
broadly  tipped  with  white,  forming  two  conspicuous 
bands ;  inner  wing  quills  broadly  edged  with  white 
(this  sometimes  tinged  with  yellow)  ;  bill,  grayish- 
black  ;  iris,  brown ;  legs  and  feet,  light  grayish-blue. 
Young:  Crown,  hindneck,  back,  shoulders,  lesser  wing- 
coverts,  rump,  and  upper  tail-coverts,  plain  soft  brown- 
ish-gray ;  line  above  the  lores,  eye  ring,  chin,  throat, 
and  chest,  very  pale  yellow,  shading  into  deeper  yellow 
on  cheek  and  under  eye  regions,  and  on  lower  portion 
of  ear  region;  rest  of  under  parts,  white;  wing-quills, 
tail-feathers,  and  larger  wing-coverts  as  in  adults, 
but   edgings   of    secondaries,   pale   yellow. 


Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest:  Pensile,  in  fork  of  decidu- 
ous tree  from  5  to  30  feet  up.  in  secluded  woods ; 
constructed  of  narrow  bark  strips  and  grass  com- 
pactly woven  and  artistically  decorated  with  cocoons, 
spiders'  nests,  and  lichens  firmly  tied  on  with  spider- 
webs.  Eggs  :  3  to  5,  usually  4,  pinkish-white,  more 
heavily  marked  than  rest  of  genus,  with  umber-brown, 
sepia,  and  chestnut. 

Distribution. —  Eastern  United  States  and  southern 
British  Provinces  ;  north  to  Maine.  Vermont,  northern 
New  York,  southern  Ontario,  southern  Quebec,  and 
southern  Manitoba  west  to  edge  of  Great  Plains; 
breeding  south  to  Gulf  coast,  from  northern  Florida 
to  southern  Texas;  in  winter  from  southern  Florida 
and  Cuba  southward  through  eastern  Mexico  and 
Central  America  to  Colombia ;  casual  in  winter  in 
Cuba  and   Bahamas. 


Like  the  Warbling  Vireo,  the  Yellow-throated 
species  is  essentially  a  tree-top  bird,  but  probably 
it  is  much  the  more  frequently  seen  of  the  two, 
for  the  reason  that  its  plumage  includes  quite 
strong     color     contrasts,     while     the     Warbline 


Photo  by  A.  A.  Allen 

YELLOW-THROATED  VIREO 
Incubating  twenty-five  feet  from  the  ground  in  a  chestnut  tree 

species'  colors  are  comparatively  inconspicuotis. 
Also  like  that  species,  this  bird  frequently  builds 
in  shade  trees,  and  from  their  topmost  branches 
sends  down  its  characteristic  and  frequently 
repeated   song,   which   somewhat  resembles  that 


of  the  Red-eyed  member  of  the  family.  A  com- 
monly expressed  distinction  between  the  two 
utterances  is  that  the  quality  of  the  Red-eye's 
voice  is  soprano,  while  that  of  the  Yellow- 
throat  is  contralto;  but  Mr.  Mathews  defines  the 
difference  more  accurately  by  this  analysis :  "  It 
is  nearer  the  truth  to  say.  rather,  that  the  Yel- 
low-throat has  a  violin  qtiality  to  his  voice,  or 
better,  a  reedlike  qtiality ;  Bradford  Torrey  calls 
it  an  '  organ  tone.'  At  any  rate  there  is  no  clear 
whistle  to  this  Vireo's  music,  and  on  the  con- 
trary there  is  to  the  Red-eye's  music.  That  is 
the  whole  matter  in  a  nut-shell !  For  the  rest  I 
may  add  that  the  Yellow-throat's  tempo  is  much 
slower  and  that  he  does  not  indulge  in  such  an 
interminable  amount  of  singing!" 

E.  H.  Eaton  records  having  found  this  Warbler 
nesting  in  Central  Park,  New  York  city,  and 
also  in  shade  trees  in  Rochester,  Medina,  Canan- 
daigua,  and  Buft'alo.  and  adds  this  further  inter- 
esting observation :  "  I  have  found  that  in  some 
localities  where  it  was  common  years  ago  it  has 
disappeared,  and  made  its  appearance  in  other 
localities  where  it  was  formerly  unknown.  This 
shifting  of  its  centers  of  abundance  is  difficult 
to  explain,  but  I  have  noticed  in  certain  small 
parks  and  about  many  groves  and  on  certain 
streets  where  it  has  been  carefully  watched,  this 
species  has  disappeared  the  next  season  after  it 
was  unsuccessful  in  rearing  its  young,  due  to 
its  having  been  parasitized  by  the  Cowbird. 
Probably  this  catise  and  other  unfavorable  cir- 
cumstances, like  the  destruction  of  its  brood  by 
Screech  Owls  or  unfavorable  weather  conditions, 
left  no  descendants  to  repeople  the  accustomed 
grove." 


C^v.-lvsy  of    tn./  Nc-w  Yo.«  State   Museun 


Plate  ql 


•"^  •■_    -^^y-^ 


WARBLING  VIREO      I 


YOUN 


RED-EYED  VIREO    }  ircinilli-a  otirn,:,:   i  I.itiiiaous) 

YELLOW-THROATED  VIREO   La itirim  Ihi cifruns  (N'ii.illot) 
WHITE-EYED  ViREO    V  irto  ijn.s,  us  tjri^run  (  Bi>il(lucrt  i 
All    Vi    nat.  size 


PHILADELPHIA  VIREO 
VircoHiUu  pliihidtlphu-a  Cassln 
.  BLUE-HEADED  VIREO 

Lanivnvu  sulUaiius  mliUniu^  (Wilson) 


VIREOS 


lo: 


BLUE-HEADED  VIREO 

Lanivireo  solitarius  solitarius   {irHson) 


Other  Names. —  Solitary  Vireo ;  Blue-headed  Green- 
let. 

General  Description. —  Length,  5'4  inches.  Fore 
parts,  .^late  :  upper  parts,  olive-green;  under  parts,  wliitc. 

Color. —  Adults:  Croicn.  hiinliu-cl,-,  sides  of  lu-ck. 
regions  around  the  ears  and  under  the  eyes,  and 
cheeks,  slate-color  or  dee/^  slate-gray,  deepening  into 
slate-blackish  on  Ijack  portion  of  lores ;  front  and 
upper  portions  of  lores  and  broad  eye-ring  (interrupted 
in  the  front  by  blackish  loral  mark),  white;  back, 
shoulders,  rump,  and  upper  tail-coverts,  plain  olive- 
green,  the  first  usually  intermixed  with  slate-gray; 
wings  and  tail,  slate-blackish  with  light  olive-green  edg- 
ings, the  outermost  tail-feathers  with  outer  web,  white; 
middle  and  greater  wing-coverts,  broadly  tipped  with 
yellowish-white    or    pale    sulphur-yellow,    forming    two 


sulphur-yellow,  yellowish-white,  or  white  faintly  tinged 
with  yellow ;  under  wing-coverts  pale  sulphur-yellow ; 
inner  webs  of  wing-  and  tail-feathers  edged  with  white; 
hill,  black;  iris,  deep  brown;  legs  and  feet,  grayish- 
blue.  Young:  Similar  to  adults  but  duller  in  color, 
with  gray  of  head  much  tinged  with  brown,  olive-green 
of  back,  browner,  and  white  of  under  parts  less  pure. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest:  Pendant,  in  terminal  forks 
of  horizontal  branches  within  lo  feet  of  ground;  con- 
structed of  bark  strips,  leaves,  weed  stems,  and  cater- 
pillar cocoons  and  firmly  fastened  witli  vegetable- 
strings  and  hair  and  lined  with  fine  grasses.  Kr.c.^ : 
3  to  5,  white  or  creamy,  spotted  with  umber  and  chest- 
nut,  chiefly   around   large   end. 

Distribution. —  Eastern  North  America:  north  to 
Prince     Edward     Island,     Keewatin,     Athabasca,     and 


■ing  by  R.  I.  Brasher 

BLUE-HEADED   VIREO  ij  i 
Early  to  arrive  in  the  spring  and  ofte 


remarkably  tame 


distinct  bands ;  wing-quills  with  outer  webs  broadly 
edged  with  yellowish-white  or  pale  sulphur-yellow; 
chin,  throat,  and  middle  under  parts  of  body,  white; 
sides  and  flanks,  mi.xed  sulphur-yellow  and  olive-green- 
ish, in  broad,  ill-detnied  stripes  ;  under  tail-coverts,  pale 


southern  Mackenzie;  west  to  border  of  the  Great 
Plains ;  breeding  southward  to  Connecticut,  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  North  Dakota;  wintering  in  the  Gulf  States, 
Cuba,  and  southward  through  eastern  Mexico  to 
Guatemala. 


He  whose  ears  are  attuned  to  the  harmonies  of 
nattire  may  find  the  Bkie-headed  or  Solitary 
\'irco  on  warm  April  days  or  in  early  May  in 
the  wooded  regions  of  most  of  the  northeastern 
States.  It  may  be  recognized  by  its  bltiish  head, 
the  white  ring  around  the  eye,  and  the  pure  white 
throat.  It  heralds  its  presence  at  this  time  bv  its 
wild  sweet  song,  a  charming  cadence  of  the 
woiidcd  wilderness.  Its  notes  seem  more  spirit- 
ual and  less  commonplace  than  those  of  the 
familiar  V'ireos  of  village  and  farmstead. 

The  bird  itself  is  no  more  solitary  in  migra- 


tion than  other  \'ireos,  although  it  is  not  numer- 
otis  or  gregarious,  but  in  the  nesting  season  it 
seeks  the  cool  and  grateful  shade  of  pine  or  hem- 
lock trees.  It  does  not  avoid  mankind  but  dwells 
near  him  only  when  he  lives  in  its  favorite  forest 
retreats.  Like  some  other  species  it  has  proved 
so  confiding  at  times  as  to  allow  a  jierson  to 
stroke  its  back  as  it  sat  on  its  beautiful  pensile 
nest. 

This  Vireo  is  one  of  the  conservators  of  the 
forest  —  a  caterpillar  hunter  of  renown  —  one  of 
a  number  of  arboreal  birds  which  guard  the  trees 


io8 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


against    the    too    destructive    attacks    of    quickly 
multiplying  scaly-winged  hosts. 

Edward  Howe  Forbusii. 

There    are    in    North   America    four   regional 
varieties  of  the  Blue-headed  Vireo.     The  Moun- 


'  by  J.  Alden  Lonng 

BLUE-HEADED  VIREO 
d  is  one  of  the  conservators  of  the 


tain,  or  Mountain  Solitary,  Vireo  {Lanivireo 
solitariiis  alticola)  is  larger  and  slightly  darker  in 
coloration,  with  the  back  more  often  mixed  with 
gray  and  sometimes  with  more  gray  than  olive- 
green  ;  it  breeds  in  the  Alleghenies  from  western 
Maryland  to  eastern  Tennessee  and  northern 
Georgia  and  winters  in  the  lowlands  from  South 
Carolina  to  Florida.  The  Plumbeous  Vireo  [Lani- 
virco  solitariiis  plnmbciis)  of  the  southern  Rocky 
Mountain  Region  is  very  similar  to  the  Mountain 
X'ireo,  but  its  back  and  shoulders  are  entirely 
gray,  the  rump  and  upper  tail-coverts  gray, 
tinged  with  olive-green  and  its  sides  and  flanks 
are  much  more  faintly  washed  with  yellow ;  it 
breeds  from  northern  Nevada,  northern  Utah, 
northeastern  Wyoming  and  southwestern  South 
Dakota  south  through  i\rizona  and  southwestern 
Texas  to  the  mountains  of  Mexico.  Cassin's 
Vireo  (Lanivirco  solitariiis  cassini)  is  much  like 
the  Blue-headed  Vireo  but  averages  slightly 
smaller  and  much  duller  in  color ;  it  breeds  from 
central  British  Columbia,  southwe:^tern  Alberta, 
and  western  Montana  south  through  California 
and  western  Nevada  to  the  San  Pedro  Martir 
Alountains,  Lower  California;  in  migration  it  is 
found  in  Utah,  Arizona,  Colorado,  and  New 
Mexico,  and  in  winter  in  Mexico.  The  San  Lucas, 
or  San  Lucas  Solitary,  Vireo  (Lanivirco  soli- 
tariiis Iiicasaniis)  is  like  Cassin's  Vireo  but  smaller 
and  with  decidedly  larger  bill  and  with  more 
yellow  and  less  olive  on  the  sides  and  flanks ;  it 
is  a  resident  of  the  Cape  San  Lucas  region  of 
Lower  California. 


BLACK-CAPPED   VIREO 


Vireo  atricapillus  ]]'oodlioiise 

A,    O.    U.    Number  630 


Other  Name. —  Black-capped  Greenlet. 

General  Description. —  Length,  4%  inches.  Fore 
parts,  black;  upper  parts,  olive-green;  under  parts, 
white. 

Color. —  Lores  and  a  broad  eye-ring,  white,  the  latter 
interrupted  on  upper  eyelid ;  rest  of  head  and  neck, 
except  cliin  and  throat,  uniform  black  (oldest  birds?) 
or  black  and  slate-gray  (younger  birds?)  ;  back, 
shoulders,  rump,  upper  tail-coverts,  and  lesser  wing- 
coverts,  clear  olive-green  ;  wings  (except  lesser  coverts) 
and  tail,  dull  black  or  dusky  with  light  olive-green  edg- 
ings ;  the  middle  and  greater  wing-coverts  broadly 
tipped  with  pale  yellow,  forming  two  conspicuous  bands 


across  wing ;  under  parts,  including  chin  and  throat, 
white,  passing  into  light  olive-yellow  or  pale  yellowish 
olive-green  on  sides  and  flanks ;  under  wing-coverts 
sulphur  or  primrose-yellow ;  bill,  black  ;  iris,  brownish- 
red  ;  legs  and  feet,  grayish-blue. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest;  Usually  suspended  from 
forks  of  elm,  oak.  or  mesquite  saplings,  within  6  feet  of 
the  ground;  a  perfectly  woven  structure  of  bark  strips, 
grasses,  skeleton  leaves,  spiders'  webs,  and  caterpillar 
silk.     Eggs:     3  to  4,  pure  white,  unmarked. 

Distribution. —  Southwestern  Kansas  southward 
through  Oklahoma  and  west-central  Texas;  southward 
in  winter  to  Mexico,  as  far  as  State  of  Sinaloa. 


VIREOS 


109 


\'ireos  are  likely  to  be  rather  deliberate  birds 
in  comparison  with  the  Warblers,  but  the  Black- 
capped  \'ireo  is  decidedly  energetic  in  its  move- 
ments. Furthermore  it  is  the  single  American 
member  of  its  faniilv  with  the  head  down  to  the 
throat  black,  except  for  the  small  white  triangular 
patch  running  from  the  eye  to  the  angle  of  the 
hill  and  the  forehead. 

The  bird  seems  to  have  been  first  described  in 
1 85 1  by  Dr.  W'oodhouse.  who  took  his  specimen 
near  the  San  Pedro  River,  208  miles  from  San 


Antonio,  and  later  by  John  J.  Clark,  natural- 
ist of  the  Mexican  Uoundary  Commission,  who 
found  it  in  Mexico  near  the  locality  in  which  it 
was  seen  by  Dr.  W'oodhouse.  Both  observers  had 
their  attention  attracted  to  the  bird  by  its  sharji 
and  unmusical  chirp.  Its  song,  Mrs.  Bailey  savs, 
is  unusually  varied  for  a  Vireo,  though  of  the 
general  character  of  those  of  the  W'hite-eved 
and  Bell's  \"ireos,  rather  than  that  of  the  Warb- 
ling \'ireo.  "One  song  contained  a  run,  and  its 
L'l'-t   notes   were   liquid,   loud,  and  emphatic." 


WHITE-EYED   VIREO 

Vireo  griseus  griseus   (  Hixhlocrt) 

.\.    O.    U.    Number  (..ii       See  Color   PLnte  qi 


Other  Names. —  White-eyed  Greeiilet ;   Politician. 

General  Description. —  Length,  5'4  inches.  Upper 
parts,   groeni^li-ohve :    under   parts,   white. 

Color. —  Adults;  Above,  plain  greenish-olive  or  dull 
olive-green,  usually  passing  into  grayish  on  hindneck ; 
wings  and  tail,  dusky  grayish-brown  with  light  olive- 
green  edgings,  the  middle  and  greater  wing-coverts 
rather  broadly  tipped  with  pale  yellow  or  yellowish- 
white,  producing  two  distinct  bands  across  wing;  a 
stfij^c  above  the  lores  and  a  narroiv  eye-ring  of  canary 
or  sulphur-yellow:  a  dtisky  stripe  across  the  lores; 
ear  and  under  eye  regions  and  sides  of  neck,  grayish- 
olive  or  olive-gray;  chin,  throat,  central  portion  of 
chest  and  breast,  abdomen,  and  under  tail-coverts,  dull 
white,  passing  into  pale  yellott.'  zcashed  icith  olive,  on 
sides  and  flanks,  the  chest  and  breast  tinged  with 
yellow  or  grayish  (or  both),  the  anal  region  and 
shorter  under  tail-coverts  also  tinged  with  yellow ; 
under  wing-coverts  pale  yellow  or  yellowish-white ;  bill, 
black  ;  iris,  white  ;  legs  and  feet,  grayish-blue.  Young  : 
Similar  to  adults,  but  upper  parts,  duller  and  browner ; 
the  stripe  above  the  lores  and  the  eye-ring,  grayish- 
white  or  brownish-white  instead  of  yellow;  chin,  throat, 
and  chest,  very  pale  gray  or  brownish-gray;  sides  and 
flanks,  pale  olive-yellow;  iris,  brownish  (hazel). 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Xest  :  In  low  bush,  rarely  more 
than  4  feet  up,  pensile  ;  constructed  of  grass  and  bark 
strips  and  decorated  exteriorly  with  brown  or  white 
spiders'  nests,  bits  of  rotten  wood,  or  newspaper  and 
rags  and  lined  with  fine  grass  and  some  hair.  Eciis : 
3  to  5,  white,  li,ghtly  spotted  with  dark  purjjle  and 
chestnut  around  large  end. 

Distribution. —  Eastern  United  States ;  breeds  from 
snutheastern  Nebraska,  southern  Wisconsin,  New  York, 
and  Alassachusetts  to  central  Texas  and  central  Flor- 
ida ;  winters  from  Texas,  Georgia,  Florida,  and  South 
Carolina     through     eastern     Mexico    to    Yucatan     and 


Guatemala;    casual    north    to    Vermont,    Ontario,    and 
New   Brunswick,  and  in  Cuba. 


K/ 


Drawing  by  R.  I.  Brasher 

WHITE-EYED  VIREO  (5 
ible  little  fellow  who  gives  intrude 


The  White-eyed  Vireo  is  one  of  the  distinct 
characters  of  bird-land  —  pert,  abusive,  and  sar- 
castic by  turns,  but  always  clever  and  amusing. 
Chip-a-7ccc-o,      Mr.      Torrey      very      accuratelv 


transliterated  his  characteristic  and  contemptu- 
ous salutation  as  you  approach  his  thicket,  and 
Whip  To]ii  Kelly  is  a  word-equivalent  which 
.Mexander  Wilson  found  in  use  in  the  South  — 


no 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


though  this  injunction  seems  a  much  closer  ren- 
dition of  the  Chewink's  phrase.  "  Who  are  yoii, 
now  ?"  the  bird  demanded  of  Mr.  Torrey ;  and  to 
others  he  has  shouted :  "  Get  out !  Beat  it !"  al- 


Cuurte.y  ui  Outing  Pub.  Co. 
WHITE-EYED  VIREO  FEEDING  YOUNG 

most  as  jjlainly  and  peremptorily  as  a  New 
York  policeman  says  "  (iwan  "  to  the  corner- 
loafer. 

Not  even  the  loquacious  Yellow-breasted  Chat 


has  so  sharp  a  tongue.  Indeed,  the  Chat  is,  after 
all,  essentially  a  clown  and  a  nonsense-vendor, 
while  the  White-eye  is  tart  and  severe  and  de- 
cidedly inclined  to  be  expostulatory  and  dicta- 
torial. As  Mr.  Torrey  says:  "This  Vireo  is 
the  very  prince  of  stump-speakers  —  fluent,  loud, 
and  sarcastic  —  and  is  well  called  the  politician, 
though  it  is  a  disappointment  to  learn  that  the 
title  was  given  him  not  for  his  eloquence,  but 
on  account  of  his  habit  of  putting  pieces  of  news- 
paper into  his  nest." 

Two  regional  varieties  of  the  White-eyed 
Vireo  are  found  within  the  boundaries  of  the 
United  States.  The  Key  West,  or  Maynard's, 
Vireo  ( Vireo  grisciis  inaynardi)  is  larger,  the 
upper  parts  average  grayer,  sometimes  with  more 
gray  than  greenish-olive,  and  the  yellow  of  sides 
and  flanks  averages  much  paler,  sometimes  con- 
sisting of  a  mere  tinge  or  wash  of  pale  olive- 
yellow  ;  it  is  found  in  the  Florida  Keys  and  the 
coast  district  of  Florida.  The  Small  White- 
eyed  Vireo  (  Vireo  griscus  micriis)  is  similar  in 
color  to  the  Key  W'est  Vireo  but  is  even  smaller 
than  the  White-eyed  Vireo:  it  is  found  in  the 
Rio  <  irande  valley  of  Texas  and  northeastern 
Mexico. 


BELL'S  VIREO 
Vireo  belli  belli  Audubon 


Other  Name. —  Bell's  Greenlet. 

General  Description. —  Length.  5'4  inches.  Upper 
parts,  olive-green  ;   under  parts,  whitish. 

Color. — Adults  :  Crown  and  hindneck.  dull  grayish- 
brown,  sometimes  tinged  with  olive;  rest  of  upper 
parts,  dull  olive-green  or  greenish-olive;  v/ings  and 
tail,  deep  grayish-brown  with  paler  edgings ;  middle 
and  greater  wing-coverts  (except  the  innermost)  tipped 
with  dull  whitish,  forming  two  bands  ;  a  narrow  eye- 
ring  and  a  streak  above  the  lores  of  dull  white;  ear 
and  under  eye  regions,  pale  grayish^brown  or  brownish- 
gray ;  a  dusky  mark  at  front  corner  of  eyes;  central 
under  parts  dull  white  tinged  with  buffy-yellowish, 
especially  on  chest,  the  sides  and  flanks  light  olive- 
yellow;  under  tail-coverts,  pale  sulphur-yellow;  under 
wing-coverts  yellowish-white;  bill,  horn-brown;  iris, 
brown ;  legs  and  feet,  bluish-gray.    Young  :     Much  like 


umber   6.,3 

adults,  but  crown  and  hindneck.  soft  drab;  back  and 
shoulders,  dark  drab ;  under  parts  nearly  pure  white 
with  sides,  flanks,  and  under  tail-coverts  tinged  with 
sulphur-yellow,  and  wing-bands  more  distinct. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest  :  A  neat,  smoothly  built 
structure  of  bark  strips,  plant  fibers,  and  leaves  and 
lined  with  fine  grass,  down,  rootlets,  and  hair;  sus- 
pended by  brim  from  forks  of  small  trees  or  bushes. 
Encs:  Commonly  4,  though  rarely  sets  of  8  are 
found ;  white,  thinly  spotted  with  brown  around  large 
end. 

Distribution. —  Prairie  districts  of  Mississippi  valley, 
from  South  Dakota,  southern  Minnesota,  Iowa,  north- 
ern Illinois,  and  northwestern  Indiana  southward  to 
eastern  Texas  and  Tamaulipas ;  in  winter  southward 
over  greater  part  of  Mexico  and  Guatemala;  accidental 
in  Massachusetts  and  New  Hampshire. 


In  its  normal  range,  which  is  very  wide.  Bell's 
Vireo  is  quite  common.  It  seems  to  be  especially 
fond  of  dense  patches  of  brush  and  briers,  and 
hedge-fences.     In  its  habits,  and  especially  in  its 


song,  it  resembles  the  W^hite-eyed  Vireo  inore 
than  anv  other  member  of  its  family.  Dr.  Coues 
thought  that  some  of  its  notes  were  like  those  of 
the  Bluebird  in  the  spring,  though  more  hurriedly 


WARBLERS 


III 


delivered.  Mr.  Ridgway  likened  the  song  to  that 
of  the  White-eve.  hut  considered  the  utterance 
more  sputtering  and  in  that  respect  similar  to 
that  of  the  House  Wren. 

The  Texas  \'ireo  {lirca  belli  iiwdiiis)  is 
found  in  southwestern  Texas  and  south  into 
central  Mexico;  it  is  paler  in  coloration  than  its 
type  species.  Bell's  \'ireo.  and  its  tail  is  rela- 
tively longer,  its  crown  and  hindneck  are  hrown- 
ish-gray  instead  of  grayish-brown,  the  olive 
of  its  upper  parts,  grayer,  and  its  under  jiarts. 
whiter. 

The  Least  Vireo  {I'irco  ht-lli  piisilltis)  is  a 
plain  grayish  little  bird  of  the  willows  and  thick- 


ets in  central  California,  soutli western  Nevada, 
and  western  Texas  south  to  northern  Lower 
California  and  the  valley  of  Mexico.  It  is  even 
|ialer  and  grayer  than  the  Texas  Vireo. 

.'\nother  species  of  the  Vireo  family  is  the 
Gray  \ireo  {I'lrco  vicinior).  It  is  very  much 
like  the  Least  \ireo  hut  the  wing-bars  are  miss- 
ing. It  is  also  very  similar  to  the  Plvmibeous 
Vireo  but  its  colnration  is  duller  and  lacks  the 
sharj)  contrasts  of  the  Plumbeous.  The  Gray 
\'ireo  makes  its  home  in  southern  California, 
southern  Nevada,  the  Grand  Canon  of  the  Colo- 
rado, and  southeastern  Colorado  south  to  Lower 
California.  Sonora.  and  Durango. 


WARBLERS 

Order  Passcrcs :  suborder  Osc!)ics ;  family  Miiiotiltidcr 


.■\RBLERS  are  essentially  —  most  of  them  strictly  —  insectivorous  birds 
of  active  habits.  Most  of  them  are  arboreal,  nesting  and  feeding  among 
the  trees  and  rarely  descending  to  the  grottnd;  some  are  terrestrial,  living 
much  upon  or  near  the  ground,  where  they  walk  in  the  graceful  "  mincing  " 
manner  of  a  Wagtail  or  Pipit,  meanwhile  tilting  the  body,  as  if  upon  a  pivot, 
and  oscillating  the  tail  in  the  same  characteristic  manner.  Most  of  them 
are  expert  flycatchers.  Others  creep  about  the  trunks  and  branches  of  trees 
as  nimbly  as  a  Nuthatch.  The  majority  of  them  combine,  in  various  degrees, 
these  several  habits. 

As  a  rule  the  Warblers  are  birds  of  beautiful  plumage,  though  their 
attractiveness  in  this  respect  consists  in  the  tasteful  arrangement  or  "  pattern  " 
of  the  colors  rather  than  in  their  brilliancy.  Yellow  is  the  most  common  and  characteristic 
hue,  though  this  is  usually  relieved  by  markings  or  areas  of  black,  gray,  olive-green,  or 
white,  usually  by  two  or  more  of  these  colors;  red  is  not  infrequent,  grayish-blue  less 
common;  while  pure  blue,  green,  and  purple  are  never  present,  and  the  plumage  is  never 
glossy.  There  is  generally  a  sexual  difference  of  plumage,  and  very  often  the  young  are 
different  from  either  adult. 

Many  of  the  Warblers  have  attractive  songs;  but  perhaps  the  inajority,  at  least  among 
the  North  American  species,  are  songsters  of  very  ordinary  or  inferior  merit. 

The  group  of  Warblers  is  peculiar  to  America,  where  it  is  the  second  largest  family. 
It  represents  the  Syhiidcc  and  Muscicapidcc  of  the  eastern  hemisphere.  Over  150  species 
and  subspecies  belonging  to  21  genera  are  recognized.  It  contains  a  larger  proportion  of 
one-type  species  than  most  families  of  song-birds,  nearly  one-half  of  the  genera  being 
each  represented  by  but  a  single  known  species. 

There  is  probably  no  finer  tribute  to  the  beneficial  character  of  these  birds  than  that 
of  Dr.  Elliott  Coues,  who  said:  "With  tireless  industry  do  the  Warblers  befriend  the 
human  race;  their  unconscious  zeal  plays  due  part  in  the  nice  adjustment  of  Nature's  forces, 
helping  to  bring  about  the  balance  of  vegetable  and  insect  life,  without  which  agriculture 
would  be  in  vain.  They  visit  the  orchard  when  the  apple  and  pear,  the  peach,  plum,  and 
cherry  are  in  bloom,  seeining  to  revel  carelessly  amid  the  sweet-scented  and  delicately- 
tinted  blossoms,  but  never  faltering  in  their  good  work.  They  peer  into  the  crevices  of 
the  bark,  scrutinize  each  leaf,  and  explore  the  very  heart  of  the  buds,  to  detect,  drag  forth, 
and  destroy  these  tiny  creatures,  singly  insignificant,  collectively  a  scourge,  which  prey 
upon  the  hopes  of  the  fruit-grower  and  which,  if  undisturbed,  would  bring  his  care  to  naught. 
Some  Warblers  flit  incessantly  in  the  terminal  foliage  of  the  tallest  trees;  others  hug  close 

Vol..  III.  — 9 


112  BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 

to  the  scored  trunks  and  gnarled  boughs  of  the  forest  kings;  some  peep  from  the  thicket, 
the  coppice,  the  impenetrable  mantle  of  shrubbery  that  decks  tiny  watercourses,  playing 
at  hide-and-seek  with  all  comers;  others  more  humble  still  descend  to  the  ground,  where 
they  glide  with  pretty,  mincing  steps  and  affected  turning  of  the  head  this  way  and  that, 
their  delicate  flesh-tinted  feet  just  stirring  the  layer  of  withered  leaves  with  which  a  past 
season  carpeted  the  ground." 


BLACK  AND  WHITE  WARBLER 
Mniotilta  varia   {Litnurus) 

A.    O.    U.    N'uml)er   636       See   Color   Plate  gj 


Other  Names. —  Black  and  White  Creeper;  Blue  and 
White  Striped  or  Pied  Creeper ;  Black  and  White 
Creeping  Warbler ;  Creeping  Warbler ;  Striped  War- 
bler ;  Varied  Creeping  Warbler ;  Whitepoll  Warbler. 

General  Description. —  Length,  5l<  inches.  Plum- 
age, black  and  white  in  stripes.  Bill,  shorter  than  head 
and  very  slender;  wings,  long  and  pointed;  tail,  even 
or  very  slightly  forked,  the  feathers  rather  narrow. 

Color. — Adult  Male:  Crown  with  a  broad  center 
stripe  of  white  and  two  still  broader  lateral  stripes  of 
black,  slightly  glossed  with  blue;  rrst  of  upper  parts 
(e.xcept  wing-  and  tail-feathers),  slightly  glossy  blue- 
black,  the  back  and  shoulders  streaked  zvith  white,  mid- 
dle and  greater  wing-coverts,  broadly  tipped  with  white 
(forming  two  conspicuous  bands'),  and  inner  wing-quills, 
broadly  edged  with  white;  secondaries  and  primaries, 
grayish  black  narrowly  edged  with  gray;  middle  tail- 
feathers,  black  centrally,  gray  laterally,  the  gray 
broader;  other  tail-feathers,  grayish-black  narrowly 
edged  with  gray,  the  two  outermost  with  a  large  space 
of  white  on  inner  web,  and  all  with  inner  webs  edged 
with  white;  eye-ring  and  a  broad  stripe  above  the  eyes, 
white;  below  this  an  elongated  patch  of  slightly  glossy 
blue-black  covering  lores  and  sides  of  head  ;  a  broad 
white  cheek  stripe ;  under  parts,  mainly  white,  but  throat 
usually  black ;  sides,  from  chest  to  flanks,  inclusive, 
broadly  streaked  or  striped  with  blue-black ;  under  tail- 


coverts,  black  centrally,  broadly  margined  with  white; 
bill,  black;  iris,  brown;  legs  and  feet,  dusky  horn  color. 
Adult  Female:  Smaller  and  much  duller  in  color,  the 
white  everywhere  more  or  less  tinged  with  buffy-brown- 
ish  ;  the  throat,  white;  the  lores,  wholly  pale  grayish; 
the  sides  of  head  pale  buffy-grayish  margined  above  by 
a  narrow  streak  behind  eye  of  black;  streaks  of  sides 
much  less  distinct,  becoming  grayish  on  sides  of  chest ; 
and  flanks  strongly  tinged  with  brownish-buff;  bill, 
black. 

Nest  and  Eggs. — Nest  ;  On  ground  at  foot  of  tree, 
bush,  stump,  or  rock,  among  upturned  roots  or  along- 
side a  log;  rather  bulky;  constructed  of  dead  leaves, 
strips  of  bark,  grasses,  weed  stems,  lined  with  hair; 
sometimes  partly  roofed,  in  half-hearted  imitation  of 
the  Oven-bird's  home.  Eggs  :  Normally  s,  white  or 
creamy  speckled  and  spotted  all  over  with  brown  and 
chestnut,  the  markings  usually  collecting  in  wreath 
formation  around  large  end. 

Distribution. —  Eastern  North  America,  north  to 
upper  Mackenzie  valley.  Hudson  Bay,  breeding  south- 
ward to  Virginia,  Tennessee,  Louisiana,  Texas, 
(probably  to  upper  sections  of  other  Gulf  States)  ; 
wintering  from  the  Gulf  States  southward  throughout 
the  West  Indies,  Mexico,  and  Central  America  to 
Colombia  and  Venezuela  ;  accidental  in  California  and 
in  the  Bermudas. 


Bird-names  of  popular  origin  often  reveal 
queer  inisapprehensions  as  to  the  birds  concerned, 
but  the  name  "  Black  and  White  Creeper,"  by 
which  this  bird  has  commonly  been  known,  has 


the  advantage  of  being  accurately  descriptive. 
For  the  bird  certainly  is  black  and  white ;  and 
furthermore  it  creeps  about  on  the  tree  trunks 
and  branches  with  even  more  celerity  and  skill 


Photo  by  H,  K,  J..h 

MALE  BLACK  AND  WHITE  WARILER  FEEDING  YOUNG 


Court.^sy  ol   th.r  N.^w  York  Static  Mus.-ir.n 


Plate  92 


BLACK   AND   WHITE   WARBLER      Minolill.i  r,ir,„   (I.iiiiiiiPUs) 


WATER-THRUSH 

-ir.ir,-,,.^!-^  iiurrhi.rarei, 
OVEN-BIRD     Sn 


!  (GmeliiO 

',s  aun,c„p,ll„s  (I.i 


WORM-EATING  WARBLER 

PROTHONOTARY  WARBLER 

Pnil,„:,il„n.,  cl/r.a  (JioddatTt) 
LOUISIANA  WATER-THRUSH 
S.ii,nis„wt„cilla  Vielllot 


WARBLERS 


113 


than  is  shown  by  the  Brown  Creeper,  for  ex- 
ample. That  bird  does  not  attempt  to  come 
down  a  tree  trunk  head  foremost,  nor  to  circle  a 
horizontal  limb,  feats  which  are  managed  with 
Nuthatch-like  ease  by  the  Black  and  White 
Warbler.  Altogether  the  Warbler  is  a  much 
better  "  creeper  "  than  the  Creeper  is.  However, 
for  reasons  which  doubtless  seem  good  and  suffi- 
cient to  them,  the  ornithologists  have  seen  fit 
to  eliminate  from  the  bird's  name  the  term  which 
describes  its  most  characteristic  habit,  and  the 
inclusion  of  which  certainly  would  have  been  of 
much  assistance  in  identifying  the  species. 

The  literal  translation  of  its  scientific  name, 
is  very  appropriate;  Miiiotilta  means  moss- 
plucking  and  refers  to  its  habit  of  searching  in 
the  moss  on  trees  for  its  insect  food ;  z'aria  is 


variegated  and,  of  course,  has  reference  to  the 
striped  eil'ect  of  its  coloration. 

The  terms  "  wiry  "  and  "  thin  "  are  usually  em- 
ployed in  describing  this  bird's  songs,  and  are 
perhaps  as  descriptive  as  any  that  could  be  used. 
One  song  consists  of  eight  or  ten  notes  of  the 
same  pitch  and  tone  uttered  in  closely  connected 
couplets,  the  syllables  being  like  jTt-i'  and 
zcivcc.  The  other,  wliich  is  less  frequently 
heard,  though  it  is  longer  than  the  one  first  men- 
tioned, has  about  the  same  beginning,  but  shows 
more  variation  in  its  development,  while  the  tone, 
a  sort  of  lisping  whistle,  is  mellower  and  more 
musical.  About  the  most  that  can  truthfully  be 
said  of  these  utterances  is  that  the  bird  seems  to 
have  made  the  best  use  of  a  feeble  and  none  too 
musical  instrument. 


PROTHONOTARY  WARBLER 

Protonotaria  citrea    (Boddacrt) 

.\     II     L'.    .Numhrr   <.i7       See   (olor    Plate  gj 


Other  Names. —  Gulden  Warbler ;  Gnlden  Swamp 
Warbler;   Willow   Warhler. 

General  Description. —  Length,  5' 2  inches.  Fore 
and  under  parts,  yellow  ;  upper  parts,  yellowish  olive- 
green.  Bill,  shorter  than  head,  wedge-shaped ;  wing, 
rather  long  and  with  long  pointed  tip ;  tail,  slightly 
rounded. 

Color. —  Adult  M.ale-  Head,  neck,  and  under  parts 
{except  under  tail-cozerts) .  rich  yellow,  the  head  some- 
times tinged  or  flecked  with  cadmium  orange  ;  back  and 
shoulders,  plain  yellowish  olive-green,  this  sometimes 
extending  forward  over  hindneck  and  back  of  head; 
rump,  upper  tail-covert.s,  wing-coverts,  and  inner  wing- 
feathers,  plain  gray;  secondaries,  primaries,  and  tail- 
feathers,  black,  edged  with  slate-gray,  the  inner  webs 
of  tail-feathers  (except  middle  pair),  white  tipped  with 
blackish:  under  tail-coverts,  white;  under  wing-coverts, 
white,  tinged  with  yellow  ;  inner  webs  of  wing-feathers, 
edged  with  white;  bill,  black  in  summer,  lighter  colored 
in  winter;  iris,  brown;  legs  and  feet,  dusky.  .Adult 
Female:  Similar  to  the  male,  but  smaller  and  much 
duller  in  color;  olive-green   of  back  extended   forward 


over  hindneck  and  crown  :  yellow  of  under  parts,  less 
intense,  tinged  with  olive,  and  becoming  much  paler 
on  abdomen  and  flanks,  the  latter  strongly  tinged  with 
olive  ;  bill,  dusky  in  summer,  lighter  colored  in  winter. 

Nest  and  Eggs. — Nest:  Usually  in  deserted  hole  of 
a  Downy  Woodpecker  or  Chickadee,  otherwise  in  almost 
any  cavity  or  hole,  from  2  to  15  feet  up  (averag- 
ing about  5)  and  almost  always  in  a  stump  stand- 
ing or  leaning  over  water;  carefully  and  thickly  lined 
with  moss.  Eccs :  5  to  7,  commonly  6,  varying  from 
creamy-white  to  buffy-white,  glossy,  heavily  blotched 
with  rich  chestnut,  lavender,  and  purple. 

Distribution. —  More  southern  portions  of  eastern 
United  States,  breeding  from  Gulf  States  (northern 
Florida  to  eastern  Texas),  north  to  Virginia,  southern 
Ohio,  Indiana,  southern  Michigan,  northeastern  Illi- 
nois, Iowa,  southeastern  Minnesota,  eastern  Nebraska, 
etc.,  occasionally  northward  to  Massachusetts,  south- 
eastern New  York.  Ontario,  and  Wisconsin,  casually 
to  Maine  and  New  Brunswick;  south  in  winter  to 
Cuba  and  through  eastern  Mexico  and  Central  .America 
to  Ci:ilombia.  N'enezuela,  and  Trinidad. 


The  Prothonotary  Warbler  is  a  southern 
\\'^arbler  whose  range  does  not  extend  as  far  as 
Canada.  It  is  coinmon  in  the  Ohio  vallev  and  in 
the  Carolinas  and  on  down  in  the  bottom  lands 
of  the  Mississippi  and  the  rivers  that  flow  into 
the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  Rut  everywhere  it  must 
have  its  home  by  running  water  and  generally 
in  the  willows.     It  prefers  those  districts  which 


sufTer  from  spring  floods.  This  has  given  it  the 
names  of  the  Golden  Swamp  Warbler  and  \\i\- 
low  Warbler.  There  is  no  use  looking  for  the 
bird  awav  from  a  stream  or  swamp.  It  does  not 
stray  awav.  With  its  sweet  and  penetrating  pert, 
tweet,  t-cvcet.  tzvect  or  siveet.  sweet,  sweet,  sweet. 
it  tells  the  traveler  that  water  is  near.  \\'hen  the 
bird  is  found  he  is  generally  industriously  going 


114 


BIRDS    OF    AMERICA 


over  and  over  the  area  he  has  chosen,  feeding 
up  and  down  among  the  bushes  and  trees  and 
never  very  far  from  the  nest. 

The  nesting  site  is  very  Hkely  to  be  an  old 
Woodpecker  hole  but  often  a  ledge  or  crotch 
serves  as  well.  When  the  hole  is  deep  it  is  filled 
to  within  a  few  inches  of  the  top,  generally  with 


green  moss,   but   with  more  shallow  places  the 
nest  building  is  a  much  less  laborious  task. 

The  bird  is  rarely  seen  in  the  migrating 
Warbler  flocks,  for  most  of  these  flocks  are  off 
for  far  northern  climes.  The  Prothonotary  on  the 
other  hand  has  a  special  taste  for  more  southern 
streams  and  swamp  lands. 


SWAINSON'S  WARBLER 
Helinaia  swainsoni   (Amliibou) 

A     O.   U.    Number  038 


General  Description.—  Length,  6  inches.  Upper 
parts,  ohve ;  under  parts,  yellowish.  Bill,  nearly  as 
long  as  head,  narrow,  wedge-shaped ;  wings,  moderately 
long  and  rather  pointed  ;  tail,  slightly  forked  or  double 
rounded,  the  feathers  broad. 

Color. — Adults  (sexes  alike)  :  Crown,  plain 
brown,  sometimes  with  an  indistinct  center  streak  of 
paler,  or  an  indication  of  one;  back,  shoulders,  rump, 
upper  tail-coverts,  and  wing-coverts,  plain  olive ;  inner 
wing-quills,  warmer  brown  :  secondaries  and  primaries, 
dusky  edged  with  light  brown  or  olive;  tail,  plain  olive 
brown ;  a  narrow  stripe  over  eye  of  light  yellowish- 
buff;  a  triangular  spot  of  dusky  in  front  of  eye;  a 
streak  behind  eye  of  brownish;  sides  of  head  otherwise, 
pale  buffy-brownish ;   under  parts,   pale   dull   yellowish, 


shaded  with  olive-grayish  laterally;  bill,  light  brownish; 
iris,  brown  ;  legs  and  feet,  pale  flesh  color. 

Nest  and  Eggs. — Nest:  Usually  built  among  canes, 
sometimes  in  small  bushes,  from  three  to  ten  feet  above 
tlie  ground  ;  generally  in  swampy  locations  but  some- 
times on  high  land  some  distance  from  water,  and  is 
a  remarkably  large  affair  of  water-soaked  sweet  gum, 
water  oak,  pepperidge  or  holly  leaves,  lined  with  fine 
pine  needles  and  moss.  Eggs  :  3,  rarely  4,  plain  dull 
wliite.   creamy   or   bluish-white,   without   markings. 

Distribution. — Southeastern  United  States  ;  breeds 
from  southeastern  Missouri,  southern  Illinois,  southern 
Indiana,  and  southeastern  Virginia  south  to  Louisiana 
and  northern  Florida ;  winters  in  Jamaica ;  migrates 
through  Cuba  and  the  Bahamas ;  casual  in  Nebraska, 
Texas,  and  Vera  Cruz. 


awing  by  R.  I.  Brasher 
SWAINSON'S  WARBLER  (J  nat.  size) 
A  strange,  rare,  southern  bird 


^ 


^ 


/       / 


WARBLERS 


115 


Swainson's  \\  arbler  is  a  strange,  rare,  soulli- 
ern  bird.  He  is  so  strange  that  one  hardly  ex- 
pects to  call  such  a  plain  brown  and  white  bird 
gliding  so  gracefully  along  under  the  bushes  a 
Warbler.  He  is  so  rare  that  one  may  search  for 
days  and  not  find  him.  Even  in  the  South,  one 
has  to  confine  one's  search  for  him  to  the  coastal 
swamps  from  the  Dismal  Swam])  of  Virginia 
down  through  the  "  jjineland  gal!  "  of  the  Caro- 
linas,  west  in  the  vine-tangled  .senfitrnpical  ver- 
dure of  the  (iulf  coast  and  up  the  .Mississi]ipi  and 
some  of  its  tributaries  in  the  thickets  nf  the  bot- 
tom lands. 

In  describing  the  song.  Mr.  W  illiam  llrewster 
says  it  is  "  a  performance  so  remarkable  that  it 
can  scarcely  fail  to  attract  the  dullest  ear,  while 
it  is  not  likely  to  be  soon  forgotten.     It  consists 


of  a  series  of  clear,  ringing  whistles,  the  first 
four  uttered  rather  slowly  and  in  the  same  key, 
the  remaining  five  or  six  given  more  rapidly,  and 
in  an  evenly  descending  scale,  like  those  of  the 
Canon  Wren.  ...  In  general  eft'ect  it  recalls 
the  song  of  the  \\  ater-thrush.  .  .  .  It  is  very 
loud,  very  rich,  very  beautiful,  while  it  has  an 
indescribably  tender  (puility  that  thrills  the  senses 
after  the  sound  has  ceased.  .  .  .  Although  a 
rarely  fer\ent  and  ecstatic  smigster,  our  little 
friend  is  als(.)  a  fitful  an<l  uncertain  one.  You 
may  wait  fur  Imurs  near  his  retreat  e\en  in  early 
morning  or  late  afterndun,  without  hearing  a 
note.  But  when  the  inspiratinn  comes  he  floods 
the  woods  with  music,  one  song  often  following 
another  so  cpiickly  that  there  is  scarce  a  pause 
for  breath  between." 


WORM-EATING  WARBLER 

Helmitheros  vermivorus  {Gmclin) 

;\.    n.   V.    Number  659       See  fnlnr   Tlate  92 


Other  Names. — Worm-eater  :  \^'or^l-eatiI1p:  Swamp 
W'arhler. 

General  Description. —  Length.  5'j  iiirhc;.  Upper 
parts,  grayish  olive-green ;  under  parts,  huffy.  Rill, 
decidedly  shorter  than  head,  wedge-shaped  ;  wings, 
rather  long  and  pointed;  tail,  even  or  very  slightly 
rounded,  the  feathers  moderately  hroad. 

Color. — Adults  (sexes  alike':  Crown  with  two  hroad 
lateral  strlf>cs  of  Hack  and  a  center  one  of  olive-huff : 
rest  of  upper  parts,  plain  grayish  olive-.green  ;  a  hroad 
stripe   over   eye   of   pale  buff,   margined   beneath   by   a 


rather  broad  streak  of  black  behind  eye;  a  triangular 
spot  of  the  same,  or  dusky  grayish,  in  front  of  eye; 
sides  of  head  below  this  black  line,  with  entire  under 
parts,  pale  dull  huffy,  deepest  on  chest,  paler  on  throat 
and  abdomen  (the  latter  sometimes  nearly  white), 
tinged  with  grayish-olive  on  flanks;  under  tail-coverts, 
pale  olive-grayish,  edged  and  broadly  tipped  with  pale 
yellowish-buff:  bill,  brown;  iris,  brown;  legs  and  feet, 
pale  brownish   flesh   cnlnr. 

Nest  and   Eggs.— Xkst:     On  the  ground,  generally 
on   a   woody  hillside:    constructed   of   dead   leaves   and 


WORM-EATING  WARBLER 

[e  spends  most  of  his  time  on    the   ground 
within  a  few  feet  of  it 


Ii6 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


nearly  always  lined  with  red  flower-stalks  of  hair  moss. 
Eggs:  3  to  6,  usually  4,  white  thinly  or  thickly  marked 
with  spots  and  blotches  of  Indian  red,  lavender,  and 
chestnut  sometimes  wreathed  but  more  often  evenly 
•distributed. 

Distribution.—  Eastern  United  States,  more  common 
southerly,  breeding  northward  to  southern  Connecticut, 


southeastern  New  York  (lower  Hudson  valley),  Penn- 
sylvania, southern  Wisconsin  (vicinity  of  Racine),  etc., 
occasional  in  Massachusetts ;  in  migration  casually  to 
Massachusetts,  Vermont,  western  New  York,  southern 
Ontario,  and  southern  Wisconsin ;  winters  south  to 
Bahamas,  Cuba,  Jamaica,  and  through  eastern  Mexico 
and  Central  America  to  Panama. 


The  Worm-eating  Warbler  is  distinctly  a 
ground  Warbler,  a  very  differently  acting  bird 
from  most  of  the  Warbler  family.  Most  of  them 
are  rather  excitable,  nervous  birds  of  the  tree- 
tops.  The  Womi-eater  is  a  quiet  bird  that 
spends  most  of  his  time  on  the  ground  or  within 
a  few  feet  of  it,  walking,  not  running;  and  some- 
times creeping  along  a  tree  trunk  like  the  Brown 
Creeper  or  the  Black  and  White  Warbler.  On 
the  ground  this  bird  is  rather  cocky-acting,  step- 
ping along  deliberately  under  the  huckleberry 
bushes  or  other  dense  undergrowth,  with  his  tail 
slightly  raised.  He  has  a  smart  and  jaunty  air 
and  also  a  shy  disposition  that  reminds  one  of  a 
Thrush  at  his  sprightliest. 

The  Worm-eating  W^arbler  is  not  so  rare  as  it 
has  been  credited,  ^^'here  bird  students  have 
given  time  to  search  his  haunts,  he  has  been  found 


fairly  common  as  far  north  as  southern  New 
England,  southern  Michigan,  and  Nebraska.  But 
the  search  for  him  has  to  be  itiade  in  ravines  and 
on  dry  forested  hillsides  where  the  undergrowth 
makes  a  convenient  nesting  site.  This  bird  loves 
his  home  locality.  It  has  been  frequently  ob- 
served how  year  after  year  the  birds  will  come 
back  to  the  same  thicket,  building  their  new 
nest  within  sight  of  the  old  ones. 

Its  ordinary  song  is  a  weak  affair,  closely 
resembling  that  of  the  Chipping  Sparrow,  but 
Mr.  Burroughs  says:  "The  bird  has  a  flight 
song,  uttered  near  sundown,  nearly  as  brilliant 
as  that  of  the  Oven-bird."  { MS.)  The  call  is  a 
sharp  dst,  and  he  who  watches  closely  and 
silently  in  the  tangle  when  it  is  heard  may  be 
rewarded  bv  a  sight  of  this  bird  with  the  buff  and 
black  striped  head. 


Other  Names.— Blue-Winged  Yellow  Warbler  ;  Blue- 
Winged   Swamp  Warbler. 

General  Description. —  Length,  434  inches.  Upper 
parts,  olive-green  ;  under  parts,  lemon-yellow.  Bill, 
shorter  than  head,  narrowly  wedge-shaped,  the  tip  very 


BLUE-WINGED  WARBLER 
Vermivora  pinus   ( Liniucus). 

\     O.    V.    Number   641        See   Color   Plate  93 

moderately  long ;  tail,  about  A4  length  of 


acute :  wmg 

wing,  even  or  nearly  even,  the  feathers  narrow. 

Color.^  Adult  M.\le  :  Forehead  and  crown,  bright 
lemon  yellow:  hack  of  head,  hindneck.  back,  shoulders, 
rump,  and   upper   tait-coverls.  bright    olire-iireen.  more 


Photo  by  H.  K 


BUTE-WINGED   WARBLER   FEEDING   YOUNG 


WARBLERS 


117 


yellowish  on  rump,  the  upper  tail-coverts  tinged  with 
gray:  wiiig-coverts  and  inner  wing-feathers,  gray,  the 
middle  and  greater  coverts  usually  tipped  with  it7ii/t\ 
forminn  tzvo  bands;  secondaries  and  primaries,  dusky 
edged  with  gray,  their  inner  webs  broadly  edged  with 
white ;  tail,  gray,  the  tliree  outermost  leathers  with 
inner  webs,  extensively  white,  the  fourth,  sometimes 
even  the  fifth,  occasionally  sliowing  a  terminal  white 
spot;  lower  half  of  lores  and  a  pointed  streak  back  of 
eye,  black;  sides  of  head  below  this  black  streak,  with 
entire  lower  parts  (except  under  tail-coverts^,  clear 
lemon,  the  sides  and  flanks  slightly  tinged  with  olive- 
green  ;  under  tail-coverts  and  under  wing-coverts, 
white ;  bill,  black  in  summer,  brownish  and  paler 
below  in  winter;  iris,  brown;  legs  and  feet,  horn- 
brownish.  Adult  P"em.\le:  Similar  to  the  male  but 
duller    in    color;    olive-green    of    upper    parts   covernig 


crown,  sometimes  the  forehead  also;  lores  and  mark 
back  of  eye,  dusky  grayish  instead  of  black  ;  gray  of 
wing-coverts  and  inner  wing-feathers  tinged  with  olive- 
green. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Xest  :  On  the  ground,  in  a  dense 
tuft  of  grass  or  ferns,  in  clearings  or  new  growth  of 
saplings;  constructed  of  leaves  and  strips  of  wild  grape 
bark,  lined  with  very  fine  grass.  Et;us :  4  to  0,  usually 
5,  white  or  creamy  white  specked  and  spotted  with 
sepia  brown,  lavender,  and  purple. 

Distribution. —  Eastern  United  States ;  breeding 
northward  to  southern  Connecticut,  southeastern  New 
York,  Pennsylvania,  northern  Ohio,  northern  Indiana, 
northern  Illinois,  southern  Iowa,  eastern  Nebraska,  etc.; 
occasional  straggler  to  Massachusetts,  Michigan,  and 
Minnesota;  southward  in  winter  through  eastern 
Mexico,  Guatemala,  Nicaragua,  to  Colombia. 


A  ])roloiiged.  lisping,  drawling  "  song  "  of  only 
two  notes,  c-.:cc-i\  c-ccc-c, —  from  the  shrub- 
bery along  roads  or  brushy  jiastiu'C'  or  the  onen 
border  of  woods,  proclaims  to  the  initiated  the 
presence  of  this  tiny  bird,  of  rather  unique, 
though  not  conspicuous,  personality.  Yellow  is 
its  dominating  color,  but  its  grayish  wings  show 
that  it  is  not  the  Yellow  \\'arbler.  Its  note  is 
very  characteristic,  and  not  forgotten  as  easily 
as  are  the  notes  of  many  other  Warblers. 

Most  of  the  tribe  incline  to  be  northerly  in 
summer  distribution,  whereas  this  is  one  of  the 
small  grouj)  which  are  distinctly  southerly. 
Southern  Connecticut  is  as  far  north  along  the 
Atlantic  coast  as  it  is  at  all  common,  hut  there 
it  is  found  in  good  numbers  during  the  nest- 
ing season.  Were  it  not  for  the  characteristic 
note,  it  would  be  considered  a  much  rarer  bird 
than  it  really  is. 

In  its  general  manner  of  conducting  itself,  it 
is  n(it  different  from  various  other  W'arlilers. 
It  is  a  busy  searcher  of  foliage  and  shrubbery, 
generally  not  very  high  up,  yet  more  commonly 
off  the  ground,  though  it  readilv  descends  upon 
occasion.  I  have  often  seen  it  in  second-growth 
woodland,  especially  where  it  is  a  little  moist  or 
swampy,  but  less  in  deep  forests.  It  is  distinctly 
a  bird  of  the  open  edge  of  woodland  and  of  over- 
grown pastures. 

The  nest  is  on  the  ground,  just  in  from  the 
edge  of  the  woods,  in  small  clearings  or  openings 
in  low  woods,  in  a  bushy  pasture,  or  bv  a  weedv 
roadside.  Usually  it  is  under  a  smrdl  bunch  of 
weeds,  often  by  some  little  sprout,  down  which 
the  bird  can  descend  to  enter  the  nest.  The 
structure  is  deep,  rather  loose  in  texture,  and  is 
characterized  by  having  its  sifles  formed  of  dead 


leaves  which  curl  inward  and  arch  over  the  top 
of  the  nest,  helping  to  conceal  it. 

Through  knowing  just  the  sort  of  a  jilace  to 
look,  I  have  fotmd  more  of  these  nests  than  of 


Fhoto  by  H.  K.  J.ilj 

BLUE-WINGED  WARBLER 
At  its  nest,  on  the  ground,  just  in  from  the  edge  of  the  woods 

any  others  of  the  less-known  Warblers.  The 
method  is  to  use  a  long  switch  and  tap  the  little 
thick  clumps  of  weed  or  small  brush  in  the  proper 
locations,  to  flush  the  female,  which  is  a  verv 
close  sitter. 

I  shall  never  forget  the  first  nest  which  I  dis- 
covered. Determined  to  learn  the  secret,  I 
started  one  day  to  heat  otit  a  nest.  .Ml  dav  long 
I   thrashed  the   low   cover,  especiallv  where  old 


Ii8 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


fields  and  second-growth  woods  adjoined. 
Toward  night  I  had  walked  a  number  of  miles 
and  knocked  at  the  door  of  some  tens  of  thous- 
ands of  possible  hiding  places,  without  results. 
Standing  in  a  little  opening  in  low  woods,  just  in 
from  a  scrub  pasture,  I  decided  reluctantly  to 
quit,  and  mechanically  brought  down  the  switch 


on  a  handy  clump  of  weeds.  The  yellow  flash 
which  followed  gave  me  a  wonderful  thrill.  In 
a  moment  I  was  gazing  with  rapture  at  the  five 
pinkish-white  eggs,  sparsely  ringed  about  the 
larger  end,  and  at  the  deep,  well-concealed  nest- 
cup  with  its  typical  converging  arch  of  upright 
dry  leaves.  Herbert  K.  Job. 


GOLDEN-WINGED   WARBLER 
Vermivora   chrysoptera    (  Liiimrus) 

A,    n.    U.    Number   64;      See   Color    Plate  93 


Other  Names. —  Golden-winged  Flycatcher  ;  Golden- 
winged  Swamp  Warbler ;  Blue  Golden-winged  Warbler. 

General  Description. —  Length,  4J4  inches.  Upper 
parts,  gray :  under  parts,  white.  Bill,  shorter  than 
head,  narrowly  wedge-shaped,  the  tip  very  acute; 
wings,  moderately  long;  tail,  about  ^i  length  of  wing, 
even  or  nearly  even,  the  feathers  narrow. 

Color. —  Adult  Male  :  Forehead  and  crown,  lemon- 
yellow,  sides  of  head,  white  (sometimes  this  carried 
forward  over  eyes  or  even  to  along  sides  of  forehead)  ; 
rest  of  upper  parts,  including  middle  pair  of  tail- 
feathers,  plain  gray;  exposed  portion  of  middle  and 
greater  wing-coverts,  mostly  light  lemon-yellow,  form- 
ing a  large  and  consl^icuous  patch  on  the  zving :  wing- 
feathers  and  tail-feathers  (except  middle  pair  of  latter), 
slate-blackish,  edged  with  gray,  the  secondaries  usually 
slightly  tinged  with  olive-green ;  inner  webs  of  three 
outermost  tail-feathers,  extensively  white  terminally; 
lores,  space  below  eye,  sides  of  head,  and  throat  (some- 
times chin  also),  uniform  black;  a  broad  cheek  stripe 
and  under  parts  of  body,  white,  the  latter  shaded 
with  gray  laterally ;  bill,  black ;  iris,  brown ;  legs  and 
feet,  dark  brownish.    Adult  Female:     Similar  to  adult 


male  but  duller  in  color,  with  black  of  throat  and  sides 
of  head  replaced  by  gray;  yellow  of  forehead  and 
crown,  less  distinct,  sometimes  (in  younger  individ- 
uals?) replaced  by  olive-green;  gray  of  upper  parts  and 
of  sides  usually  tinged  with  olive-green  ;  white  of  breast 
and  abdomen,  duller,  often  tinged  with  olive-yellow, 
especially   in   winter. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest:  On  the  ground  beneath 
a  bunch  of  weeds  or  ferns  in  clearings;  neatly  made  of 
thin  blades  of  swamp  grass,  weed  bark,  rootlets,  lined 
witli  fine  rounded  reddish  grass.  Eggs  :  4  or  5,  rarely 
0,  more  spherical  than  average  of  other  Warblers,  dull 
white  speckled  with  chestnut,  burnt  umber,  and  lilac- 
gray. 

Distribution. —  Eastern  United  States  north  regu- 
larly to  Massachusetts,  New  York,  southwestern 
Ontario,  northern  Michigan,  southern  Minnesota,  etc., 
casually  (?)  to  Manitoba,  breeding  southward  to  north- 
ern New  Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  northern  Indiana,  north- 
ern and  central  Illinois,  etc.,  and  southward  along 
Allegheny  Mountains  to  South  Carolina,  and  eastern 
Tennessee ;  south  in  winter  to  Cuba  and  through  east- 
ern Mexico  and  Central  America  to  Colombia. 


The  Golden-winged  Warbler  is  an  interesting 
species  in  that  peculiar  group  of  Vermivora 
Warblers  distinguished  by  the  peculiar  trait  of 
fertile  hybridization.  Fotir  distinct  species  are 
implicated  in  this  mixed  breeding,  namely,  first, 
the  Blue-winged  Warbler,  which  is  in  reality  a 
blue-winged  yellow  Warbler  ;  second,  the  Golden- 
wing,  which  is  in  reality  a  yellow-winged  blue 
Warbler ;  third,  Lawrence's,  which  is  a  blue- 
winged  Yellow  with  the  Golden-wing's  throat 
patch;  and  fourth,  Brewster's,  which  is  a  yellow- 
winged  blue,  or  Golden-winged,  Warbler  without 
the  throat  patch.  Birds  of  this  group  of 
Warblers  seem  to  mate  indiscriminately  and  pro- 
duce fertile  descendants.  None  of  them  can  be 
said  to  be  very  common  birds.  Indeed  Law- 
rence's and  Brewster's  are  decidedly  rare.  Some 
bird  students  attempt  to  ignore  the  crosses.  It 
is  immaterial   whether  the  crosses   are  scientif- 


ically recognizable  as  varieties,  or  species,  or 
mere  hybrids ;  they  do  exist  as  intermediate 
forms  and  therefore  deserve  some  kind  of  name. 
Lawrence's,  Brewster's,  and  Golden-Wings  are 
all  rarer  than  Blue-wings,  and  are  the  most  in- 
volved in  this  most  unusual  condition  in  the  wild- 
bird  world.  A  hybrid  may  have  either  the  song 
of  the  Golden-wing  or  the  Blue-wing.  Most  of 
the  hybrids  are  found  in  Connecticut  and  in  and 
near  the  lower  Hudson  valley. 

Golden-winged  Warblers  make  their  homes  in 
open,  bushy  cotmtry,  generally  near  streams  or 
ponds,  and  not  heavily  shaded  bv  too  many  trees. 
The  Golden-wing  song  is  a  sweet  zcc-i-zce  or 
ccc-u-zzvcc  given  three  or  four  times  and  re- 
peated many  times  when  the  bird,  posing  on  top 
of  a  bush  in  the  spring  sunshine,  bursts  into 
joyous  enthusiasm. 

L.  Nelson  Nichols. 


CourtfSy  of   the  New  York  Stal.    M 


Plate  93 


BLUE-WINGED  WARBLER       Vcrmniora  iiiinis  (I  iiuiaeusi 
BREVySTER'S  WARBLER  LAWRENCE'S  WARBLER 

GOLDEN-WINGED  WARBLER    I'-rmiroro  rlin/soptmi  (Linnaeus) 


ORANGE-CROWNED  WARBLER 

TENNESSEE  WARBLER 


ALE 


NASHVILLE  WARBLER      Vcrmiiorii  ruhricapilla  ni'i 

MALE 

iriinrnra  prn'^/nii/i  (Wilnon) 


WARBLERS 


119 


LUCY'S  WARBLER 
Vermivora  lucias  (./.  G".  Cooper) 

A     II.    U.    Number   1.43 


General  Description. —  Length,  4I2  inches.  Upper 
parts,  gray ;  under  parts,  whitish.  Bill,  shorter  than 
head,  narrowly  wedge-shaped,  the  tip  very  acute ; 
wings,  moderately  long;  tail,  about  3/i  length  of  wing, 
even  or  nearly  even,  the  feathers  narrow. 

Color. —  Adult  M.\i.e  :  Above,  plain  iiwiisr-gray; 
crown,  chestnut,  the  feathers  tipped  (except  in  worn 
plumage)  with  gray:  upper  tail-coverts,  bright  chest- 
nut; lores,  eye-ring,  and  entire  under  parts,  white  tinged 
with  pale  brownish  gray  laterally  and  also  tinged  with 
buff,  especially  on  chest ;  bill,  dusky  horn  color ;  iris, 
brown;  legs  and  feet,  dusky.  .Adult  Fem.-\le:  .Similar 
to  the  male  and  not  always  distinguishable,  but  usually 
with  the  chestnut  crown-patch  more  restricted   (rarely 


obsolete)  and  chestnut  of  botli  crown-patcli  and  upper 
tail-coverts  lighter  or  less   intense. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest:  Usually  m  deserted  Wood- 
pecker holes,  behind  loose  bark  of  trees,  in  the  giant 
cactus,  or  under  roots  along  stream  banks,  sometimes 
in  knot-holes  or  any  sort  of  crevice,  from  2  to  20  feet 
above  ground;  constructed  of  fine  grass,  leaves,  and 
rootlets,  and  lined  with  horse-hair  and  feathers.  Eggs  : 
3  to  5.  white  or  creamy,  handsomely  wreathed  around 
large  end  with  cliestnut  and  umber. 

Distribution. —  Southwestern  United  States  and 
Mexico;  breeds  in  Santa  Clara  valley.  Utah,  and 
.Arizona;  winters  in  western  Mexico  south  to 
Jalisco. 


R.  I.  Brasher 

LUCY'S  WARBLER  (i  nat.  sizel 
A  little-known  Warbler  of  the  souttiwestern  United  States  and  Me 


The  comparatively  little  known  Lucy's 
Warbler  frequents  chiefly  willow  and  mesquite 
thickets  in  river  bottoms  and  in  generally  unin- 
hal:)ited  regions.  According  to  one  observer 
(  .Stevens )  the  specimens  he  saw  "  although  active 
and  restless  were  not  at  all  shy,"  to  which  he 
adds  that  the  birds  "  were  continually  in  motion, 
flying  from  tree  to  tree,  and  occasionally  visiting 
some   low   brush   in   the   vicinit\'."     Dr.   Gambel, 


who  observed  the  bird  on  .Santa  Catalina  Island 
said  its  song  resembled  the  syllables  cr-r.r,r.r- 
shc-up  in  the  form  of  a  low,  sweet  trill. 

Mr.  Finley  found  this  Warbler  quite  abundant 
in  the  mesquite  a  few  miles  south  of  Tucson.  He 
found  several  nests  one  afternoon,  each  of  which 
was  built  in  behind  a  chunk  of  loose  bark  on  the 
side  of  a  tree  about  three  or  four  feet  from  the 
ground. 


I20 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


NASHVILLE  WARBLER 
Vermivora  rubricapilla  rubricapilla    {lI''ilson) 


Other  Names. —  Nashville  Swamp  Warbler;  Birch 
Warbler ;    Red-crowned  Warbler. 

General  Description. —  Length,  4^4  inches.  Upper 
parts,  gray  and  olive-green  :  under  parts,  yellow.  Bill, 
shorter  than  head,  narrowly  wedge-shaped,  the  tip  very 
acute;  wings,  moderately  long;  tail,  about  }i  length  of 
wing,  even  or  nearly  even,  the  feathers  narrow. 

Color. — Adult  Male:  Head,  hindncch,  sides  of 
head  and  neck,  tiaiii  i/i-ay;  crown,  chestnut,  the  feathers 
tipped  with  gray;  rest  of  upper  parts,  plain  olive-green. 
brightest  on  rump  and  upper  tail-coverts ;  lores,  pale 
grayish;  a  conspieuous  zvhite  eye-ring;  cheeks  and 
under  parts,  bright  gamboge  yellou'  becoming  white  on 
lower  abdomen  and  ana!  region,  tinged  with  olive  on 
sides  and  flanks,  especially  the  latter;  bill,  brownish- 
black  ;   iris,  brown ;   legs  and   feet,   horn-color.     Adult 


Fem.\le:  Similar  to  the  adult  male,  but  duller  in  color, 
and  with  little,  if  any,  chestnut  on  crown. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest:  On  or  imbedded  in  the 
ground,  usually  at  the  foot  of  a  bush  in  open  woods; 
constructed  of  leaves,  strips  of  bark,  and  grass,  but 
sometimes  entirely  of  pine  needles,  lined  with  fine 
grasses  and  hair.  Eggs:  3  or  4,  white  to  creamy 
speckled  with  minute  dots  of  reddish-brown,  brown, 
and  lilac,  more  numerous  around  large  end. 

Distribution. —  Eastern  North  America,  breeding 
from  Massachusetts.  Connecticut,  northern  New  Jersey, 
"Pennsylvania,  northern  Illinois,  Nebraska,  etc.,  north- 
ward to  Grand  Menan  and  the  Great  Slave  Lake 
district;  southward  in  migration  over  more  southern 
LInited  States  (east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains)  through 
eastern  Mexico  to  Guatemala. 


The  Nashville  Warbler  was  discovered  by 
Alexander  Wilson  at  Nashville,  Tennessee,  and 
reported  by  him  in  his  American  Ornithology. 
This  bird  has  ever  since  borne  the  name  Nash- 
ville Warbler.  It  is  not  a  rare  bird  in  New  Eng- 
land if  one  goes  to  the  birches  to  look  for  it.  Rut 
it  is  always  in  birches  or  poplars  that  it  makes 
its  home;  and,  if  any  bird  names  itself  from  its 
preference  for  a  special  home-site,  this  bird  cer- 
tainly names  itself  the  Birch  \\'arbler. 

Wintering  in  Texas  and  Mexico,  this  bird  fol- 
lows high  ground  to  its  breeding  area,  keeping 
well  west  of  the  Alleghenies  and  leaving  a  few 
scattered  pairs  over  the  central  States  while  the 
main  body  goes  on  to  New  England.  It  is  there- 
fore a  very  rare  bird  in  the  South  Atlantic  States, 
and  not  at  all  common  at  Nashville. 


This  plain  olive-green  bird  with  yellowish 
under  parts  seldom  comes  near  enough  to  show 
the  chestnut  crown-patch  which  gives  him  his 
name  of  rubricapilla,  and  only  bird  students  are 
familiar  with  that  detail.  As  he  is  a  nervous  bird 
fl'tting  about  in  the  birches,  he  does  not  attract 
much  attention. 

The  song  is  a  combination  of  kc-tscc  with 
Chipping-Sparrow-like  trillings.  It  has  been 
compared  to  the  song  of  the  Yellow  Warbler. 

On  the  Pacific  coast  there  is  a  variety  known 
as  the  Calaveras  Warbler  ( Vermivora  rubri- 
capilla (jitUuralis)  that  is  brighter  and  richer 
colorefl.  Thev  make  their  homes  in  manzanita, 
huckleberry,  and  short  trees,  but  do  not  confine 
themselves  to  one  kind  of  tree  as  do  the  birds  of 
the  eastern  variety.  L.  Nelson  Nichols. 


ORANGE-CROWNED  WARBLER 

Vermivora  celata  celata  {Say) 

A.    O.   U.    Number  646      See  Color  Plate  93 


Other  Name. —  Orange-crown. 

General  Description. —  Length,  5  inches.  Upper 
parts,  olive-green ;  under  parts,  olive-yellowish.  Bill, 
shorter  than  head,  narrowly  wedge-shaped,  the  tip 
very  acute;  wings,  moderately  long;  tail,  about  3^ 
length  of  wing,  even  or  nearly  even,  the  feathers 
narrow. 
'  Color. —  Adult   Male:     Above,  plain   grayish   olive- 


green,  becoming  brighter,  more  yellowish  olive-green, 
on  rump  and  upper  tail-coverts ;  croivn  zvith  a  tavny 
pateh,  this  color  mostly  concealed  (except  in  worn 
midsummer  plumage)  by  grayish  olive  tips  to  the 
feathers ;  a  narrow  stripe  over  eye,  eyelids,  and  general 
color  of  under  parts,  pale  olive-yelhzvish,  becoming 
paler  (sometimes  whitish)  on  lower  portion  of  abdo- 
men; sides  of  head,  sides  of  neck,  and  sides  of  breast, 


WARBLERS 


121 


light  grayi^ll  olive-green,  the  chest  (sometimes  throat 
also)  indistinctly  streaked  with  the  same;  an  indis- 
tinct triangular  spot  or  streak  of  dusky  in  front  of  eye 
and  a  still  less  distinct  short  streak  back  of  eye;  under 
tail-coverts  and  under  wing-coverts,  pale  yellow ;  bill, 
dusky  horn  color ;  iris,  brown ;  legs  and  feet,  brownish 
horn  color.  Adult  Female:  Similar  to  the  adult  male 
in  coloration,  and  not  always  distinguishable  (?'),  but 
usually  the  ci)lors  are  slightly  duller,  with  the  tawny- 
ochraceous  crown-patch  more  restricted,  sometimes 
obsolete. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest:  On  the  ground,  among 
clumps  of  bushes,  in  tlie  side  of  a  bank  and  usually 
hidden  by  leaves;  large  for  size  of  bird  and  constructed 


of  long,  coarse  strips  of  bark  loosely  interwoven  with 
a  few  spears  of  dried  grass  or  plant  stems  and  warmly 
lined  with  hair  and  fur  of  small  animals.  Eggs;  4  to 
6,  white  or  creamy,  finely  speckled  with  chestnut. 

Distribution. —  Alaska  (except  coast  district  from 
Kodiak  eastward  and  southward)  and  througliout 
Rocky  Mountain  district  of  British  .'America  and  United 
States,  breeding  southward  to  Manitoba  and  high 
mountains  of  New  Mexico;  during  migration  south- 
ward to  eastern  and  central  Mexico  and  eastward  over 
Mississippi  valley  and  Gulf  States  to  South  Carolina, 
Georgia,  and  Florida ;  occasionally  during  migration  in 
Kew  England  and  Middle  Atlantic  States  (numerous 
records),  and   in   southern   California. 


The  Orange-crowned  Warbler  is  a  bird  of  the 
far  Northwest.  While  one  plain  oHve  and  yellow 
bird,  the  Nashville  Warbler,  is  migrating  in  the 
spring  from  southwest  to  northeast,  one  of  his 
nearest  relatives,  another  plain  olive  and  yellow 
bird,  this  Orange-crowned  Warbler,  is  migrat- 
ing across  the  continent  in  a  way  to  mark  a  cross 
(  X  )  on  the  ina[i  of  North  America.  The 
Orange-crown's  route  is  from  the  South  Atlantic 
States  northwest  to  Manitoba,  the  Great  Slave 
Lake,  the  fur  country,  and  on  into  Alaska.  It  is 
a  bird  of  the  upper  tree-tops,  continuallv  flitting 
about  and  uttering  a  simple  song  of  a  few  sweet 
trills  of  the  Chipping  Sparrow  nature.  It  seems 
to  be  a  great  wanderer  in  the  fall.  It  has  been 
seen  in  many  places  far  from  the  regular  migra- 


tion route.  In  January,  1917,  an  Orange-crowned 
Warbler  was  seen  on  Staten  Island,  N.  Y.  Its 
presence  in  the  central  and  northeastern  States 
may.  therefore,  be  more  common  than  is  sup- 
posed. Bird  students  liave  found  the  bird  all 
over  the  United  States. 

To  this  species  must  of  course  be  added  its 
varieties  of  the  West.  The  Lutescent  \\'arbler 
(Vcnnivora  cclatu  liitcsccns)  is  not  a  very  rare 
bird  in  Califijrnia  and  is  noticeably  a  nuich  \-el- 
lower  bird  than  the  Orange-crown.  It  is, 
therefore,  more  easily  recognized  than  the 
Orange-crown.  The  Dusky  Warbler  (  Vcnnivora 
cclata  sordida)  of  the  Santa  Barbara  Islands  is 
but  a  dusky  variety  of  the  Lutescent. 

L.  Nelsox  Nichols. 


TENNESSEE  WARBLER 


Vermivora  pereg 

A.    O.   U.    Number  647 

Other  Names. —  Swamp  Warbler  ;  Tennessee  Swamp 
Warbler. 

General  Description.—  Length.  4':}  inches.  Upper 
parts,  olive-green ;  under  parts,  white.  Bill,  shorter 
than  head,  narrowly  wedge-shaped,  the  tip  verv  acute ; 
wings,  moderately  long;  tail,  less  than  '4  length  of 
wing,  decidedly  forked,  the  feathers  narrow. 

Color. —  Adult  M.\le;  Cro-wn  and  hindncck,  f>lain 
gray:  rest  of  upper  parts,  plain  olive-green,  brightest 
on  rump ;  wings,  dusky,  the  secondaries  edged  with 
olive-green,  the  primaries  with  pale  gray  (edge  of  outer- 
most primary,  white)  ;  tail,  dull  gray,  the  outer  webs 
of  feathers,  edged  with  olive-green,  the  inner  webs, 
edged  with  white,  that  of  outermost  feather  usually 
with  a  white  terminal  spot ;  lores  and  short  streak  over 
eye,  v/hite.  the  former  with  a  dusky  wedge-shaped 
streak  in  front  of  eye;  a  small  streak  back  of  eye. 
dusky;  sides  of  head,  grayish;  below  eye,  cheeks,  and 
under  parts,  white,  the  sides  and  flanks  shaded  with 
gray;  under  wing-coverts,  white;  bill,  brownish  black; 


rina   (  JJ'ilsou) 

See  Color   Plate  93 

iris,  brown  ;  legs  and  feet,  horn  color.  Adult  Fem.xle: 
Similar  to  the  adult  male  in  coloration,  but  with  gray 
of  crown  and  hindneck  never  so  pure,  being  usually 
tinged  with  olive-green,  and  with  streak  above  eye  and 
under  parts  tinged  with  yellow. 

Nest  and  Eggs.—  Nest  ;  Placed  on  or  close  to  the 
ground  in  heavy  growths  of  spruce,  balsam,  or  kindred 
trees;  constructed  of  fine  vegetable  fiber,  grass,  leaves, 
and  moss,  lined  with  hair.  Eggs  ;  4  or  5,  white,  spotted 
with  reddish-brown  and  purplish  markings. 

Distribution. —  Eastern  North  America  ;  breeds  from 
upper  Yukon  valley,  southern  Mackenzie,  central 
Keewatin.  southern  Ungava.  and  Anticosti  Island  south 
to  southern  British  Columbia,  southern  Alberta.  Mani- 
toba, northern  Minnesota.  Ontario.  New  York  (Adiron- 
dacks),  northern  Maine,  and  New  Hampshire;  winters 
from  Oaxaca  to  Colombia  and  Venezuela  ;  in  migration 
occurs  mainly  in  the  Mississippi  valley ;  rare  on  the 
.■\tlantic  slope ;  occasional  in  Florida  and  Cuba ;  acci- 
dental in  California. 


122 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


The  Tennessee  \\'arbler  is  not  a  common  bird 
over  the  eastern  part  of  the  United  States  even 
in  migration.  In  the  Mississippi  basin  it  is  fairly 
common  in  both  spring  and  fall  migrations.  But 
the  color  and  habits  of  the  bird  make  it  dis- 
couraging to  study.  What  can  one  do  with  a 
nervous,  fidgety  lot  of  dull-colored  birds  flitting 
about  in  the  tree-tops  with  not  a  wing-bar.  nor 
breast  marking,  nor  change  of  the  tail  color? 
Only  when  one  is  so  located  that  he  looks  down 
into  the  tops  of  trees  at  the  precise  moment  that 
a  Tennessee  Warbler  is  passing  through  his  part 
of  the  country,  is  it  possible  to  study  that 
bird  with  any  degree  of  satisfaction. 

This  Warbler  is  very  rarely  found  breeding 
in  the  United  States.  Of  the  great  number  of 
Tennessee  Warblers  that  pass  on  into  Canada 
in  the  spring,  some  do  not  stop  to  breed  in 
Canada,  but,  reaching  the  upper  waters  of  the 
Yukon,  go  on  down  that  valley  into  Alaska, 
where  there  are  probably  more  breeding  Tennes- 
see Warblers  than  in  any  other  part  of  the  United 
States.  Although  it  is  in  fact  a  Canadian  bird, 
even  in  Canada  it  is  not  very  well  known. 

"  The   food  of  this  species  is  of  peculiar  in- 


terest because  it  is  one  of  the  few  Warblers 
which  have  proved  to  be  destructive  to  fruits  in 
a  peculiar  way.  The  Tennessee  Warbler  is 
known  to  puncture  ripe  or  ripening  grapes  and 
to  suck  the  juice,  thereby  causing  the  decay  of 
the  berries  so  punctured  and  attracting  yellow- 
jackets,  bees,  and  other  nectar-loving  insects  so 
that  whole  clusters  are  sometimes  ruined.  This 
work  was  long  attributed  to  Orioles,  Catbirds, 
and  various  other  species,  but  has  now  been 
definitely  fixed  on  the  present  species  and  cannot 
be  denied.  Doubtless  in  some  cases  the  damage 
so  done  is  considerable,  but  usually  the  birds  are 
so  scarce  that  the  amount  of  fruit  damaged  is 
absolutely  insignificant.  Like  numerous  other 
Warblers,  this  species  eats  the  berries  of  sumac 
and  poison  ivy,  and,  disgorging  the  seeds  after- 
ward, of  course  spreads  these  poisonous  plants. 
Except  for  these  two  habits  the  bird  is  im- 
doubtedly  beneficial,  since  its  food  consists 
mainly  of  insects,  among  which  are  immense 
numbers  of  leaf-destroying  forms,  and  in  par- 
ticular, plant-lice  and  the  minute  leaf-rollers  and 
other  forms  which  few  but  the  Warblers  cap- 
ture."    (Barrows.) 


PARULA   WARBLER 
Compsothlypis  americana  americana     (Linnmis) 

A.    O.   U.    Number  048     See  Color  Plate  94 


Other  Names. —  Blue  Yellow-backed  Warbler  ;  Blue 
Yellowback  ;  Finch  Creeper ;  Southern  Parula  Warbler. 

General  Description. —  Length,  4^  inches.  Upper 
parts,  bluish-gray  and  yellowish  olive-green ;  under 
parts,  yellow  and  white.  Bill,  much  shorter  than  head, 
narrowly  wedge-shaped,  and  acute :  wings,  moderately 
long ;  tail,   forked. 

Color. —  Adui.t  M.ale:  Head  and  neck,  except  chin, 
throat,  lores,  and  eyelids,  dull  grayish-blue;  lores 
darker,  usually  blackish  ;  a  small  white  spot  or  streak 
on  rear  of  upper  eyelid,  and  a  larger  .spot  of  white  on 
lower  eyelid ;  bach  hrtzcrcn  the  shoulders,  yellowish 
olive-green,  forming  a  triangular  patch:  shoulders, 
lesser  wing-coverts,  rump,  upper  tail-coverts,  and 
middle  tail-feathers,  plain  bluish-gray,  rather  lighter 
than  color  of  head;  middle  and  greater  wing-coverts, 
wings,  and  tail-feathers  (except  middle  pair)  blackish 
or  dusky,  edged  with  bluish-gray,  the  middle  and 
greater  wing-coverts  broadly  tipped  with  white,  form- 
ing tzfo  conspicuous  hands,  the  front  one  broadest; 
inner  webs  of  three  outermost  tail-feathers  with  a 
large  spot  of  white  near  the  tip,  that  on  the  exterior 
feather  much  the  largest ;  chin,  throat,  and  breast, 
gamboge-yellow ;  chest,  varying  from  plain  yellowish- 
tawny  to  deep  tawny  (the  feathers  margined  with 
yellow)   usually  dusky  across  the  upper  portion,  some- 


times forming  a  rather  distinct  narrow  band,  the 
yellow  of  the  throat  also  sometimes  tinged  with  tawny; 
sides  of  breast,  bluish-gray,  sometimes  tinged  with  pale 
chestnut  behind ;  rest  of  under  parts,  white,  the  sides 
and  flanks  tinged  with  grayish  ;  bill,  black  above,  bright 
yellow  below ;  iris,  brown ;  legs  and  feet,  brownish. 
.\DrLT  Fem.'\le:  Similar  to  the  adult  male,  but  much 
duller  in  color,  especially  the  under  parts ;  gray  of 
upper  parts,  less  bluish ;  yellow  of  throat,  chest,  and 
breast,  paler  and  duller,  the  chest  only  faintly,  if  at  all, 
tinged  with  tawny,  never  with  a  distinct  (usually  with- 
out any)   dusky  band  across  upper  portion. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest:  In  a  bunch  of  Usnea  moss  ; 
constructed  by  interweaving  the  strands,  adding  some 
soft  plant  fibers,  and  lining  it  with  filaments  of  the 
same  material ;  entrance  on  the  side.  Eggs  :  Usually 
4,  sometimes  as  many  as  7,  creamy-white  somewhat 
glossy,  thickly  speckled  with  brown  or  reddish-brown. 

Distribution. —  More  southern  portions  of  Atlantic 
and  eastern  Gulf  Coast  districts  of  United  States, 
breeding  from  Florida,  Georgia,  and  Alabama,  at  least 
to  coast  of  Virginia,  probably  to  Delaware  and  southern 
New  Jersey :  occasional  farther  northward ;  also  occa- 
sional in  more  southern  portions  of  the  interior ;  appar- 
ently wintering  mainly  in  Florida  and  northern  West 
Indies. 


Courtesy  of   the  New  Yo.k  State  Museun 


Plate  94 


PARULA    WARBLER 


MYRTLE   WARBLER      Dmdrotra  cormuila  {lAniKieU!-) 


BLACK-THROATED  BLUE  WARBLER 

De,ulnnca  ,-mruU.->cn,H  crnilr.,,,  „s  KJn.elin) 

"At-E  FEMALE 


WARBLERS 


123 


The  Parula  \\'arbler  has  liccn  called  the  Hhie 
Yellowback,  but  the  name  "  I'arula,"  meaning;  a 
diminutive  Parus  or  Titmou.-e.  was  L,'i\en  it 
because  of  the  Chickadee-like  habit  of  searching 
for  its  food  ;  it  often  hangs  to  the  under  side  of  a 
limb  as  though  that  were  as  easy  a  way  as  right 
side  up.  The  species  has  been  divided  intu  Xorth- 
ern  and  Southern  Parulas.  overlapjiing  in  New 
Jersev  and  Marvland.  The  distinction  is  in  the 
larger  size  and  deeper,  richer  coloration  of  the 
northern  variety  (  Couipsothlypis  aiiicru-aua 
iisiic(r).  The  bird  is  a  fairly  common  sjjecies  in 
the  May  migration  in  the  northern  .States. 

If  one  watches  long  enough  he  is  pretty  sure 
to  see  the  Parula  hanging  from  a  linih.  and  then 
this  little  grayish-bhie  bird  will  be  found  tn  have 
a  verv  peculiar  yellowish-green  patch  mi  its  back. 
The  peculiar  watered-silk  effect  of  the  blue  and 
green  back  is  the  distinctive  marking  of  this 
^^'arbler. 

In    Florida    and    the    other    southern    .States. 


where  there  is  a  great  .amount  nf  S]janish-  moss 
hanging  from  the  trees,  the  I'arulas  are  common, 
and  the  buzzing  song  of  chipper,  chipper,  chipper, 
ehippee-ce-ce-ee  is  repeated  many  times  a  day. 
During  the  breeding  season  this  "  sizzling  trill," 
as  Dr.  Chapman  calls  it,  is  one  of  the  most  notice- 
able bird  songs  in  the  eastern  United  States. 

Moss  is  the  characteristic  nesting  site  of  the 
bird  over  its  whole  area.  Usnea  moss  or  beard 
moss  is  locally  common,  but  is  rare  or  absent 
over  other  large  areas.  In  tlie  moss  regions, 
and  there  only,  will  I'arula  homes  be  found.  The 
bird  is  not  (piite  such  an  artist  as  he  is  often 
given  credit  for.  Frequently  the  pendants  of 
mos  .  are  very  attractively  formed  and  often  hang 
liy  long  strong  stems  so  that  they  swing  easilv 
in  the  breeze.  .\  pair  has  onlv  to  make  a  hole 
itito  a  mass  of  moss,  bring  in  enough  material  to 
make  a  safe  bottom  for  the  nest,  and  the  building 
is  done. 

L.  Nelson  Nichols. 


OLIVE  WARBLER 
Peucedramus  olivaceus   (  Uiniiid) 

A     II.    L'.    Number    11:^1 


General  Description. —  LeiiK'th.  5  inches.  Fore 
parts,  orange  :  upper  parts,  olive-.green  and  ,t>:ray  ;  under 
parts,  whitish.  Bill,  shorter  than  head,  tapering  to  a 
point ;  wings,  long  and  pointed,  win.g-tip  very  long ; 
tail,  deeply  notched. 


Color.— .AnuLT  M,\i.f.  :  Hi-ad.  neck,  and  chcsl.  flain 
t'l-iiiiiic-nclirafi'ous.  the  sides  of  head  with  a  broad  band 
1(1  black,  involving  the  lores,  eye  ring,  and  sides  of 
liead ;  lower  hindneck  and  e.xtrenie  upper  back,  yellow- 
isli    olive-green,   this    sometimes   e.xtending  over   whole 


Drawing  by  R.  I.  Brasher 

OLIVE  WARBLER  (i  nat.  size  I 
A  mountain  singer  of  Arizona  and  New  Me 


124 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


hindneck  to,  and  including,  the  back  of  head;  back, 
shoulders,  rump,  and  upper  tail-coverts,  plain  mouse- 
gray  ;  wings  and  tail,  dull  blackish  ;  middle  and  greater 
wing-coverts,  broadly  tipped  with  white,  forming  two 
conspicuous  bands,  of  which  the  one  nearer  the  front 
is  the  broader ;  innermost  greater  coverts  edged  with 
light  grayish  olive-green  ;  secondaries  edged  with  more 
yellowish  olive-green ;  primaries  narrowly  edged  with 
whitish,  the  seventh  to  the  third  white  at  base,  forming 
a  conspicuous  spot;  tail-feathers  narrowly  edged  with 
pale  grayish,  usually  becoming  more  olive-greenish 
basally ;  inner  webs  of  two  outermost  tail-feathers 
largely  white,  this  occupying  much  the  greater  part  on 
exterior  feathers,  the  outer  web  of  which  is  also  largely 
white ;  middle  of  breast  and  abdomen  dull  white,  shad- 
ing on  sides  and  flanks  into  liglit  olive-grayish  ;  under 
tail-coverts,  white  ;  bill,  blackish  ;  iris,  brown  ;  legs  and 


feet,  dusky.  Adult  Female;  Crown  and  hindneck, 
olive-greenish;  sides  of  neck,  head,  throat,  and  chest, 
dull  sulphur-yellow,  the  chin  and  throat  sometimes 
nearly  white  ;  ear  region,  dusky,  at  least  in  part ;  lores, 
dull  grayish  ;  below  eye,  mixed  dusky-grayish  and  dull 
whitish;  rest  of  plumage,  as  in  adult  male,  but  white 
wing-bars  narrower,  and  white  spot  at  base  of  middle 
primaries  smaller,  sometimes  obsolete. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest  :  In  the  fork  of  a  conifer, 
from  30  to  50  feet  up;  very  neatly  constructed  of  weed 
stalks,  moss,  vegetable  down,  and  lichens  and  tied 
with  spider  webs.  Eggs:  3  or  4,  olive-gray  or  sage- 
green,  thickly  covered  with  black  specks,  sometimes 
almost  obscuring  the  ground  color. 

Distribution. —  Highlands  of  Mexico,  Guatemala,  and 
southwestern    United     States ;    north    to    central    Ari- 


The  (jlive  Warbler  is  confined  in  the  United 
States  practically  to  the  mountainous  regions  of 
Arizona  and  New  Mexico.  A  few  may  linger  in 
Arizona  after  the  breeding  season  or  even  in 
winter,  but  mostly  the  species  spends  the  colder 
months  in  the  highlands  of  Mexico  and  Guate- 
mala. In  the  pine  forests  which  it  frequents,  its 
movements  suggest  those  of  the  Pine  Warbler, 
according  to  Dr.  Chapman,  who  found  it  feeding 


"  leisurely  among  the  terminal  branches  or  hop- 
ping along  the  twigs  without  displaying  the 
;ictivity  of  the  fluttering  Warblers."  The  same 
observer  thought  that  the  bird's  call-note,  as  he 
heard  it  at  Las  Vegas,  Vera  Cruz,  Mexico,  re- 
sembled that  of  the  Tufted  Titmouse,  the  syl- 
lables being  like  pcto;  and  another  ornithologist 
(  Price)  has  described  its  song  as  a  "  liquid  quirt, 
quirt,  quirt,  in  a  descending  scale." 


CAPE   MAY  WARBLER 
Dendroica   tigrina    (  Cniclin) 

A.    O.    V.    Number   1,50      Sec   Color    Plate   95 


General  Description. —  Length,  5  inches.  Upper 
parts,  olive-green  with  dark  streaks ;  under  parts, 
yellow  with  black  streaks.  Bill,  shorter  than  head, 
tapering  gradually  to  a  very  acute  point;  wings,  long 
and  pointed  ;  tail,  notched. 

Color. —  Adult  M.\le  :  Crown,  black,  sometimes 
(especially  in  midsummer)  uniformly  so.  usually  with 
the  feathers,  at  least  those  of  the  back  of  head,  margined 
with  olive  (sometimes  with  rusty)  ;  sometimes  a  spot 
of  rusty  on  center  of  crown ;  back,  shoulders,  lesser 
wing-coverts,  and  upper  rump,  olive-green,  the  feathers 
with  a  central  spot  of  black;  lovver  rump  varying  from 
yellowish  olive-green  to  clear  canary-yellow ;  upper  tail- 
coverts,  blackish,  broadly  margined  with  olive-green ; 
middle  wing-coverts,  white  or  pale  yellow,  only  their 
extreme  base  dusky ;  rest  of  wings,  dusky,  the  greater 
coverts  edged  with  white,  pale  yellow,  pale  gray,  or 
pale  olive,  the  feathers  narrowly  edged  with  light  olive- 
green,  these  edgings  broader  and  paler  on  inner  wing- 
feathers  ;  tail,  dusky  with  olive-green  or  grayish 
edgings,  the  three  outermost  feathers  with  a  large  patch 


of  white  near  the  tip  on  inner  web,  decreasing  rapidly 
in  size  from  the  first  to  the  third;  stripe  over  eye. 
rufous-chestnut,  at  least  in  front  (the  rear  part,  some- 
times yellow)  ;  lores  and  streak  behind  eye.  blackish  ; 
Itelozt'  eye  and  sides  of  head,  plain  cinnamon-rufous : 
sides  of  neck  and  under  parts,  yellow,  becoming  much 
paler  (sometimes  white)  on  flanks,  lower  abdomen, 
and  under  tail-coverts ;  chest  and  sides,  streaked  with 
black,  the  throat  also  sometimes  streaked,  and  often 
tinged  with  cinnamon ;  bill,  black ;  iris,  brown ;  legs 
and  feet,  dusky  brownish.  Adlilt  Female:  Above, 
olive,  becoming  more  yellowish  on  lower  rump,  where 
the  feathers  are  sometimes  bright  olive-yellow  with 
darker  center  streaks,  the  crown  streaked  or  spotted 
with  black ;  wings,  dusky  with  light  olive  edgings,  the 
middle  coverts,  tipped  or  margined  terminally  with 
white,  the  greater  coverts  sometimes  edged  with  pale 
grayish ;  tail,  as  in  adult  male  ;  a  rather  indistinct  streak 
of  dull  yellowish  over  eye;  under  parts,  dull  whitish, 
usually  tinged  with  yellow,  especially  on  breast,  chest, 
and     sides     of     neck,     the     chest     and     sides     streaked 


WARBLERS 


125 


with   dusky-grayish   or   blackish ;   bill.   etc..   as   in   ailiilt 
male. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest:  Usually  ui  low  evergreen 
trees,  near  ground,  in  open  fields,  or  cut-over  clearings; 
rather  loosely  constructed  of  small  twigs,  grasses,  and 
leaf  stems,  fastened  with  spider  webs,  and  lined  with 
horse-hair;  the  brim  accurately  turned  into  an  almost 
perfect  circle.    Eggs  ;   Generally  4,  dull  buffy  or  grayish- 


white  spotted  chiefly  around  large  end  with  sepia,  chest- 
nut, and  lilac-gray. 

Distribution. —  Eastern  North  America  ;  breeds  from 
southern  Mackenzie,  northern  Ontario,  New  Brunswick, 
and  Nova  Scotia,  south  to  Manitoba,  northern  Maine, 
and  New  Hampshire,  and  in  Jamaica;  winters  in  the 
Bahamas  and  the  West  Indies  to  Toliago  ;  accidental  in 
Yucatan. 


A  male  Warbler,  captured  by  George  ( )r(l  in 
1809  at  Cape  May,  N.  J.,  was  described  by 
Alexander  Wilson  and  named  by  him  the  Cape 
May  Warbler.  Not  till  1825  was  a  female  taken, 
and  this  by  Charles  L.  Bonaparte  at  Rordentown, 
N.  J.  This  tan-eared  \\'arbler  has  ever  since 
been  eagerly  sought,  joyously  welcomed,  and  en- 
thusiastically praised.  Many  of  the  greatest 
bird  students  are  not  at  all  familiar  with  this 
bird,  while  some  casual  observers  have  had  most 
rare  and  excellent  views  of  this  unusual  (/,■;(- 
droica  or  tree-dweller.     And  vet  it  is  said  that 


ihc  nervousness  characteristic  of  most  \\  arblers, 
though  its  tree-top  habits  are  those  of  dcndroica, 
The  Cape  May  is  also  peculiar  in  its  disposition 
to  stop  in  the  spring  migration  to  feed  in  a  small 
clump  of  trees  and  to  remain  there  for  three  to 
six  days  at  a  time,  before  going  on  to  its  Ca- 
nadian breeding  home.  On  its  arrival  there  it 
gives  voice  to  a  fine,  penetrating,  and  sweet  song, 
not  very  different  from  the  7vcc-scc.  7vcc-scc. 
iccc-scc  of  the  Black  and  \\'hite  Warbler. 

About     11)05     Cape     Mav     \\'arblers     became 
more    common    in    western    New    ^'ork.    and    in 


Eagerly 


Courtesy  of  An 
CAPE   MAY   WARBLER   mat.  size) 
ught,  joyously  welcomed,  and  enthusiastically  praised 


in  the  central  West  as  far  as  the  Mississi]j|n  it  has 
sometimes  been  quite  common.  It  may  be  that 
the  Atlantic  coast  birds  are  the  scattered  indi- 
viduals far  east  of  the  main  body  of  northern 
migrating  Ca]ie  May  \\'arblers.  Even  if  this  is 
so,  it  is  also  quite  certain  that  there  are  by  no 
means  as  many  existing  individuals  (if  this 
s])ecies  as  there  are  of  most  of  the  well-known 
Warblers.  A  dozen  birds  together  would  make 
them  common.  Dr.  Chapman  saw  them  one 
sjiring  in  Florida  on  their  way  north,  and  in 
that  narrow  penjnsula  through  which  all  of  this 
species  migrates,  he  could  very  well  sav  that  they 
were  common. 

The  Ca])e  May  is  a  quiet  bird,  nut  exhibiting 


the  spring  migration  of  1916  they  were  more 
numerous  than  ever  in  the  area  around  the  lower 
Hudson.  Either  there  is  a  shifting  of  the  birds 
from  western  to  eastern  routes,  or  else  the  actual 
number  of  individuals  is  being  largely  increased. 
-Vt  this  rate  of  increase,  the  extraordinarv  excite- 
ment over  their  presence  will  be  reduced  in  a  few 
years  to  the  normal  interest  that  all  Warblers 
demand  from  the  bird  student.  On  the  other 
hand,  of  course,  thev  may  in  succeeding  years 
become  as  rare  as  ever. 

The  Cape  Alay  has  been  found  in  the  company 
of  the  Tennessee  Warbler  indulging  in  the  bad 
habit  of  the  latter  of  puncturing  grapes  and 
sucking  the  juice. 


126 


BIRDS   OF    AMERICA 


YELLOW  WARBLER 
Dendroica  aestiva  asstiva    ( tiinclin) 

A.    O.    U.    Number   05.'       See   Color    I 'Lite  95 


Other  Names. —  Summer  Warbler ;  Yellow  Tit- 
mouse :  Summer  Yellowbird  ;  Yellowbird  ;  Yellow  Poll ; 
Blue-eyed  Yellow  Warbler :  Golden  Warbler :  Wild 
Canary    (incorrect). 

General  Description. —  Length.  4J4  inches.  Fore 
and  under  parts,  yellow  ;  upper  parts,  yellowish  olive- 
green  ;  under  parts,  streaked  with  chestnut.  Bill, 
shorter  than  head,  slender,  tapering  gradually  to  the 
tip  ;  wings,  moderately  long  and  pointed  ;  tail,  slightly 
rounded. 

Color. —  Adult  Male:  Gcncnil  color  above,  ycllozv- 
ish  oUvc-grccn,  the  crown  more  yellowish,  usually  clear 
yellow  on  forehead  and  on  the  forward  portion  of 
crown,  often  tinged  with  orange-tawny;  upper  tail- 
coverts  edged  with  yellow ;  back,  sometimes  streaked 
with  chestnut;  wings  and  tail,  dusky,  the  middle  wing- 
coverts  broadly  tipped  with  yellow,  the  greater  wing- 
coverts  and  inner  wing-feathers  broadly  edged  with 
the  same;  primaries,  more  narrowly  edged  with  yellow- 
ish olive-green;  inner  webs  of  tail-feathers  yellow, 
tipped  with  dusky;  sides  of  head  and  under  parts,  clear 
rich  yellow,  the  chest,  sides,  and  flanks,  streaked  ivith 
chestnut:  bill,  blackish;  iris,  brown;  legs  and  feet,  light 
brownish.      .A.DULT    Female  :      Above,    plain    yellowish 


olive-green  (usually  darker  than  in  adult  male),  the 
crown  concolor  with  the  back,  or  at  least  not  distinctly 
more  yellowish  ;  wings  and  tail,  as  in  adult  male,  but 
tips  of  middle  wing-coverts  and  broad  edgings  of 
greater  coverts  and  secondaries  less  purely  yellow, 
usually  yellowish  olive-green ;  under  parts,  paler  and 
duller  yellow  than  in  adult  male,  usually  without 
streaks,  but  sometimes  with  a  few,  usually  indistinct, 
chestnut  streaks  on  chest  and  sides. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest:  Generally  located  in  hedges 
and  small  saplings,  within  10  feet  of  the  ground,  and 
strongly  fastened  in  forks;  constructed  very  neatly  of 
grayish  colored  plant  fibers  and  slender  pliable  strips 
of  bark  and  lined  with  down  and  feathers;  in  some 
cases  built  entirely  of  cat-tail  down  forming  an  exqui- 
sitely soft  receptacle  for  eggs  and  young.  Eggs:  2  to 
6,  usually  4,  with  a  greenish  white  ground  spotted  and 
splashed  around  large  end  with  shades  of  brown,  lilac- 
gray,  and  some  black. 

Distribution. —  North  and  South  America  ;  breeds  in 
North  America  east  of  Alaska  and  Pacific  slope  from 
tree  limit  south  to  Nevada,  northern  New  Mexico, 
southern  Missouri,  and  northern  South  Carolina ; 
winters   from  Yucatan  to  Guiana,  Brazil,  and   Peru. 


Photo  by  H.  T    MM.M.  t  , 

MOTHER  YELLOW  WARBLER 
Feeding  her  one-day-old  babes 


The  Yellow  Warbler  seems  to  be  one  of  the 
few  birds,  and  represents  perhaps  the  only 
species,  which  resent  and  often  defeat  the  Cow- 
bird's  parasitic  practice  of  laying  its  eggs  in  the 
nests  of  other  birds  and  of  unloading  upon  them 
its  parental  responsibilities.  This  the  bird  does 
by  building  a  flooring  over  its  eggs  among  which 
a  Cowbird  has  deposited  one  of  her  own.  That 
the  bird  does  this  deliberately,  and  with  the  defi- 
nite purpose  of  avoiding  the  hatching  and  rear- 
ing of  the  ugly  and  voracious  foundling,  is  shown 
by  the  fact  that  the  intended  victim  of  the  Cow- 
bird  frequently  repeats  the  floor-building  opera- 
tion twice  or  even  three  times,  to  forestall  as 
many  of  the  parasite's  attempts  to  make  it  a 
foster  parent.  Why  the  Yellow  Warbler  should 
be  apparently  capable  of  this  discernment,  and 
should  resent  and  defeat  the  intended  imposition, 
while  other  Warblers,  not  to  mention  various 
Vireos  and  Sparrows,  evidently  not  only  make 
no  effort  to  get  rid  of  the  egg,  but  feed  the  young 
Cowbird  as  solicitously  as  they  feed  their  own 
voung,  is  one  of  Nature's  riddles  of  which  there 
appears  to  be  no  solution. 

For  many  other  reasons  besides  this  eminently 
practical  one,  the  Yellow  Warbler  makes  a 
strong  appeal  to  our  affections  and  respect.     In 


Court.sy  of    the  N.-w  York  Stalv  Mi.seu, 


Plate  95 


'"'GjfniTh^aerTei. 


PINE   WARBLER     Dfiirfroira  wa.irsi  (Auduhnn) 

CAPE   MAY  WARBLER     Dtiidrou-a  Imnnn  (CmeXm) 

.„    "*LE  FEMALE  YELLOW  WARBLER 

PRAIRIE   WARBLER  Dm.trmca  aa-ln;!  acstir.i  fGmelin) 

MALE  FEMALE 

PALM   WARBLER     T>endrmcn  p,,lm,irum  patmarum  fGmelin) 
YELLOW   PALM   WARBLER      Dm.li.. ua  pnlnuirum  hupochrysea  mdgvr&y 


WARBLERS 


127 


its  generally  i"ich  yellow  plumage,  set  off  bv  a 
few  contrasting  colors,  it  is  an  exceedingly  beau- 
tiful little  creature,  a  veritable  sunbeam  in  the 
masses  of  dark  green  foliage  where  it  moves 
rather  slowlv  for  a  \\  arbler.  but  always  with  a 
certain  distinctive  ease  and  grace.  The  syllables 
of  its  song,  a  thin  but  sweet  whistle,  repeated  at 
short  intervals,  suggest  the  words,  s^^'cct.  s-i^'crl. 
sweet,  S7i'eeter,  szceeter,  or  again,  -a'cc-cher, 
wee-cliee,  cliee.  cliee,  with  sometimes  a  cliiir 
or  a  wee-i-u  included,  and  accomjiany  a  cheerful 
and  unflagging  industry  which  all  may  behold, 
because  of  the  bird's  fondness  for  fruit  and 
shade  trees  about  human  habitations.  It  is  also 
frequently  found  in  willow  trees  near  the  water, 
and  in  other  comparatively  open  growths,  but 
rarely  in  dense  forests.  The  bird's  conspicuous 
coloration  and  its  verv  wide  distribution  make  it 


line  of  the  best  known  members  of  its  familv  so 
manv  of  which  arc  elusive  ,ind  difficult  to 
identify.  (iF.oKiii-:  (ii.ADDEX. 

Regional  varieties  of  the  Yellow  Warbler  are  : 
the  Sonora  Yellow  Warbler  ( Dcndroka  (cstiva 
sonorana) ,  found  in  the  southwestern  part  of 
Xortli  .-Kmerica  from  western  Texas  westward 
and  ^outh  through  Mexico  to  Guatemala  and 
Nicaragua;  the  .\laska  ^'ellow  ^^■arbler  (Den- 
droica  icstiiv  nil'iijiiiosa  ) .  breeding  in  Alaska 
and  south  to  X'ancouver  Island  and  wintering  in 
Alexico  anrl  Central  America  ;  and  the  California, 
or  Brewster's.  Yellow  Warbler  (Dcndroica 
icsth'a  hre:^'steri ).  breeding  west  of  the  Sierra 
Nevada  from  Washington  to  southern  California. 
The  winter  hoiue  of  the  California  Yellow 
\\'arbler  is  unknown. 


BLACK-THROATED    BLUE   WARBLER 

Dendroica  caerulescens   casrulescens    {(^imdin) 

\     0     |-      Vnnih.r   .,S4       '-ee    (V,|o,-    I'l.tr   qi 


Other  Names. —  Blue  Flycatclu-r  ;   I'.lack-throat. 

General  Description. —  Leii.si;tli.  5  inches.  M.\le; 
Upper  parts,  black  and  blue ;  under  parts,  black  and 
white.  Fem.\le:  Upper  parts,  olive;  under  parts,  olive- 
yellowish.  Bill,  shorter  than  head,  slender,  tapering 
.ttradually  to  the  tip ;  wings,  moderately  long  and 
pointed ;  tail.  even. 

Color. —  Adult  Male:  Above,  plain  dull  grayish 
indigo-blue,  the  back  sometimes  spotted  or  clouded  with 
black ;  wings,  except  lesser  coverts,  black,  the  middle 
coverts  broadly  margined,  the  greater  coverts  broadly 
edged,  the  wing-feathers  narrowly  edged,  with  dull 
.grayish  indigo-blue,  the  inner  feathers  chiefly  of  the 
latter  color;  winy  bars  absent:  fiyiinarics  (c.rccpt 
outermost)  extensively  white  basally.  forminii  a  eon- 
spicitous  patch:  all  the  wing-feathers  with  inner  webs 
extensively  white  basally  and  edged  with  white ;  tail- 
feathers  black,  narrowly  edged  with  dull  indigo-blue, 
the  three  outermost  with  a  large  patch  of  white  on 
inner  webs  near  the  tips;  head  (except  forehead,  crown, 
and  back),  chin,  throat,  sides  of  chest,  sides,  and  flanks, 
uniform  deep  black,  that  along  sides  and  flanks  some- 
what broken  by  white  streaking;  rest  of  under  parts 
and  under  wing-coverts,  white;  bill,  black;  iris,  brown; 
legs  and  feet,  dusky  brown.  Adult  Female  :  Above, 
plain  olive,  relieved  by  a  zvhite  or  whitish  spot  at  base 
of  longer  primaries :  tail,  darker  and  more  grayish- 
olive,  edged  with  light  greenish-gray,  the  inner  web  of 


outermost  feather  sometimes  with  an  indistinct  paler, 
rarely  whitish,  spot  near  the  tiji  ;  a  whitish  streak  on 
upper  and  lower  eyelids,  the  former  continued  back- 
ward for  a  distance  over  ears  ;  under  parts,  including 
cheeks,  pale,  dull  olive-yellowish,  shaded  with  olive 
laterally;  bill,  blackish;  iris,  brown;  legs  and  feet, 
dusky  horn  color.  Young  Male  in  First  Fall  and 
Winter:  Similar  to  adult  male  but  white  of  under 
parts  tinged  with  yellowish,  bluish-gray  of  upper  parts 
tinged  with  olive-green,  and  black  feathers  of  throat. 
etc.,  margined   with  white. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest:  In  small  bushes,  seldom 
higher  than  2  feet,  close  to  abandoned  wood-roads; 
very  neat,  thick-walled  structures  of  weed  bark,  grasses, 
twigs,  and  rootlets,  lined  with  fine  brown  rootlets  and 
horse-hair  and  always  decorated  exteriorly  with  corky 
bits  of  wood  and  woolly  parts  of  cocoons.  Eggs: 
Usually  4,  pale  buffy-white  or  greenish-white,  rather 
thickly  blotched  with  varying  shades  of  pinkish  and 
reddish-brown. 

Distribution. —  Eastern  North  America ;  breeding 
from  northeastern  Connecticut,  mountains  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, northern  Ontario  and  southern  Michigan,  north- 
ward to  Labrador  and  shores  of  Hudson  Bay;  west- 
ward, during  migration,  to  base  of  Rocky  Mountains, 
in  Colorado  and  New  Mexico,  accidentally  to  Cali- 
fornia ;  winters  southward  to  West  Indies  and  northern 
South   America. 


Some    of    the    so-called    wood    W^arblers    are 

"  woodsy  "  only  by  virtue   of   relationship,  but 

the  Rlack-throated  Blue  Warbler  is  one  both  by 

structure  and  by  habit.    It  is.  moreover,  a  special- 

\'oL.  III.— 10 


ized  woodland  bird,  resorting  to  an  especial  tvpe 
of  "  the  woods."  Its  typical  haunts  are  the 
densely  shaded  second-growth  on  the  sides  of 
wooded  hills,  either  well  to  the  nortii.  or  else  to 


128 


BIRDS   OF    AMERICA 


the  correspondinc:-  fruinal  altitude.  To  suit  its 
fastidious  taste  there  should  he  rather  dense 
undergrowth,  with  more  or  less  fallen  branches, 
and  more  particularly  where  mountain  laurel 
luxuriates.  It  might  well  have  been  named  the 
"  Laurel  Warbler."  In  such  places  one  may  note 
a   sweet,    simple   little   song,   which   in   one   wav 


Phuto  by  H.  K.  J^jIj 

NEST  OF  BLACK-THROATEU  BLUE  WARBLER 

In  a  low  fork  of  the  little   bush  or  sapling,  a  neat  little  cup 
will  be  discovered 

reminds  one  of  the  Prairie  Warbler,  in  another  of 
the  Black-throated  Green.  Sometimes  it  comes 
from  up  in  the  trees,  but  more  often  from  the 
undergrowth.  Here,  like  most  of  its  tribe,  the 
bird  gleans  the  foliage  for  insect  life,  in  tyjjical 
Warbler  fashion. 


The  male  is  a  brilliant  distinctive  fellow,  but 
the  female  is  apt  to  prove  a  puzzle.  She  is  hard 
to  discover,  and,  even  when  found,  is  a  nonde- 
script demure  greenish  bird,  hard  to  name,  unless 
one  catches  a  glimpse  of  the  small  white  patch  on 
the  lower  middle  part  of  wing.  All  she  has  to 
say,  at  the  most,  is  an  incisive  lisping  tsip. 

The  region  where  I  became  well  acquainted 
with  this  retiring,  modest  little  sprite  was  the 
wooded  hills  of  northwestern  Connecticut,  per- 
haps its  most  southern  summer  stronghold,  ex- 
cept down  the  ridge  of  the  Alleghenies.  Up  in 
the  mountain  forests  of  the  town  of  Salisbury, 
in  June  and  early  July,  one  may  almost  con- 
stantly hear  its  song.  Here,  and  all  through 
Litchfield  County,  in  similar  situations,  it  ne.sts 
in  low  bushy  sprouts,  usually  within  a  foot  or 
I  wo  of  the  ground,  most  frequently  in  mountain 
laurel.  When  one  knows  just  where  to  look,  it 
is  not  so  very  hard  to  locate  nests,  by  persistent 
beating,  tapping  the  small  laurels  with  a  long 
switch.  In  the  course  of  time,  the  little  greenish 
bird  is  likely  to  dart  forth,  with  trembling  wings, 
to  limp  and  flutter  over  the  carpet  of  dead  leaves. 
In  a  low  fork-  of  the  little  bush  or  sapling,  a  neat 
little  cu])  will  be  discovered,  wonderfully  chaste 
and  well-woven,  in  the  deep  hollow  of  which  lie 
the  four  delicately  spotted  white  eggs.  Such  a 
Warbler's  nest  seems  like  a  locket  or  a  tiny  casket 
of  jewels.  Its  discovery  is  rich  reward  for  pro- 
longed search.  Finding  nests  of  Warblers  is  a 
specialized  form  of  "  the  sport  of  bird  study." 
It  might  be  called  the  chess  of  woodcraft,  a  test 
of  agilitv  of  mind  and  eye.  combined  with  the 
very  limit  of  patience.  None  but  a  real  bird- 
lover  can  practice  it  with  any  marked  success. 
Herbert  K.  Job. 

Cairns's  \Varbler  (Dcndroica  ccrriilcscens 
cainisi)  is  a  variant  of  the  Black-throated  Blue 
Warbler.  It  breeds  in  the  .Mleghenies  from 
Maryland  to  Georgia  and  winters  in  the  \\'est 
Indies.  Both  the  male  and  female  are  darker 
than  their  cousins. 


MYRTLE    WARBLER 
Dendroica  coronata  (LiuiiiCiis) 

A,    O.    U.    Xu.iiber   (.55       See    Color    Pl.lte  94 


Other  Names. —  Myrtle  Bird  ;  Yellow-rump  ;  Yellow- 
riimped  Warbler  :  Golden-crowned  Flycatcher  ;  Golden- 
crowned    Warbler ;    Yellow-crowned   Warbler. 

General  Description. —  Length,  $'/:  inches.  Summer 
Plumage:      Upper    parts,    bluish-gray,    streaked    with 


black;  under  parts,  white,  black,  and  yellow.  Winter 
Plum.vge:  Upper  parts,  grayish-brown;  under  parts, 
brownish-white  with  black  streaks.  Bill,  shorter  than 
head,  slender,  tapering  gradually  to  the  tip ;  wings, 
long  and  pointed ;  tail,  nearly  even. 


WARBLERS 


129 


Color. —  Adult  Male  in  Si'Rino  and  Summer: 
Above,  bluish  slate-gray,  streaked  with  black,  the 
streaks  broadest  011  back  and  shoulders;  i-ro-n'ii  tc:lli  a 
large,  partly  concealed,  eloiu/ated  patch  of  bright  Iriiion- 
yeUozc,  the  lower  rump  zoith  a  triaiu/ular  patch  of  paler 
yellozo :  wings,  black  with  gray  edgings,  the  middle  and 
greater  coverts  rather  broadly  tipped  with  white,  pro- 
ducing two  distinct  bands ;  upper  tail-coverts,  black, 
margined  with  slate-gray  ;  tail,  black  with  gray  edgings. 
the  three  outermost  feathers  with  a  large  patch  of  white 
on  inner  web  near  the  tip,  decreasing  in  size  from  the 
outermost  to  the  third ;  a  streak  over  eye  and  a 
narrow  spot  on  each  eyelid,  white,  that  on  upper  eyelid 
sometimes  extended  backward,  sometimes  confluent 
with  spot  over  eye;  sides  of  head,  uniform  black; 
cheeks,  chin,  and  throat,  white,  the  lower  portion  of 
the  last  sometimes  partly  black ;  chest  spotted  or 
clouded  with  black,  this  color  sometimes  nearly  uni- 
form; a  large  patch  of  light  lemon  or  canary  yellow 
on  each  side  of  breast;  center  line  of  breast,  together 
with  abdomen  and  under  tail-coverts,  white ;  between 
the  yellow  lateral  patches  and  the  white  area  of  the 
breast  an  elongated  patch  of  black,  confluent  zoilh  throat 
area,  and  extending  backioard  to  the  flank's,  where 
broken  into  broad  streaks ;  bill,  black ;  iris,  brown ; 
legs  and  feet,  dark  brown.  Adult  Male  in  Autumn 
AND  Winter  :  Very  different  from  the  summer  plum- 
age ;  above,  grayish-brown,  with  black  streaks  con- 
cealed, except  on  back  and  shoulders,  where  much  less 
conspicuous  than  in  summer  plumage;  yellow  crown- 
patch  concealed  by  brown  tips  to  the  feathers ;  sides 
of  head,  brown,  like  crown,  varied  by  the  same  white 
markings  as  in  summer  ]>Iumage,  but  these  less  distinct ; 
chin,  throat,  and  chest,  brownish-white,  the  last  streaked 
with  black;   lateral  yellow  breast  patches,  less   distnict 


tlian  in  summer,  usually  tinged  with  brownish  and 
flecked  with  dusky  ;  black  side  breast  areas  broken  by 
broad  white  margins  to  feathers;  wings  and  tail,  as  in 
summer  but  white  hands  across  former  brownish. 
.Xdult  Female  in  Spring  and  Summer:  Similar  to 
the  summer  male,  but  smaller  and  duller  in  color ;  the 
upper  parts  tinged  {sometimes  strongly)  with  brown  or 
dusky  brownish-gray,  instead  of  black;  less  of  black  on 
chest  and  sides  of  breast,  and  yellow  lateral  breast 
patches  smaller  and  paler  yellow.  Adult  Female  in 
.\uTUMN  and  Winter:  Similar  to  the  winter  male, 
but  smaller ;  upper  parts  more  decidedly  brown,  with 
streaks  obsolete,  except  on  back ;  yellow  crown-patch 
more  restricted  (sometimes  nearly  obsolete)  ;  wing- 
bands,  eyelids,  etc.,  pale  brown ;  under  parts,  pale  buffy- 
lirown  to  the  front  and  on  the  sides,  the  median  portion 
of  breast,  abdomen,  and  under  tail-coverts,  dull  yellow- 
ish-wdiite;  yellow  patches  on  sides  of  breast,  indistinct, 
sometimes   obsolete. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest:  Placed  usually  in  a  conif- 
erous tree  but  a  few  feet  up  ;  bulky  and  carelessly  built 
111  small  spruce  and  heiulock  twigs,  vegetable  fibers, 
old  leaves  and  lined  with  hair,  small  roots  and  some 
feathers,  Egg.s  :  3  to  5.  dull  white  or  creamy  speckled 
and  blotched  with  shades  of  chestnut,  brown  and  lilac- 
gray,  often  in  wreath  around  larger  end. 

Distribution. —  North  America  in  general,  chiefly 
east  and  north  of  Rocky  Mountains ;  breeding  from 
mountains  of  western  Massachusetts,  northeastern  New 
York,  northern  Michigan.  Manitoba,  etc.,  to  limit  of 
tree  growth,  wintering  from  the  United  States  (except 
extreme  northern  portions)  southward  to  West  Indies, 
through  Mexico  and  Central  America  to  Panama ; 
on  Pacific  coast  from  central  Oregon  to  southern  Cali- 
fornia ;  accidental  in  Greenland  and  eastern  Siberia. 


The  color  contrasts  in  the  pluinage  of  the 
Myrtle  Warbler,  its  very  wide  distribution,  and 
the  fact  that  it  is  often  a  winter  resident  in  New 
\ork  and  New  England,  make  it  one  of  the  best- 
known  members  of  its  species.  The  patch  of 
bright  yellow  which  is  very  conspicuous  just 
above  the  bird's  tail  serves  as  a  positive  identifi- 
cation mark,  and  gives  the  bird  its  comniun  alter- 
native name  of  Yellow-rumped  Warbler.  Again, 
it  is  the  only  \\'arbler  with  a  white  throat,  ex- 
cepting the  Chestnut-sided,  which  plainly  shows 
any  yellow  in  its  plumage.  Furthermore,  it 
moves  with  more  deliberation  than  is  character- 
istic of  many  members  of  this  essentially  rest- 
less and  somewhat  nervous  family ;  while  its 
habit  of  feeding  much  in  shrubbery  and  hedges 
bring.s  it  frequently  within  easy  observation 
range.  Finally  its  stay  in  its  northern  range  is 
much  more  prolonged  than  is  that  of  most  other 
Warblers,   for  it  arrives  in  the  latitude  of  New 


\  ork  city  about  the  last  week  of  April  and  re- 
mains until  about  the  20th  of  November.  IXiring 
that  month,  the  Myrtle  is  of  very  common  occur- 
rence along  the  southern  shore  of  Long  Island, 
where  it  feeds  in  the  stunted  and  then  leafless 
brush,  cheerfully  unmindful  of  its  bleak  sur- 
roundings. It  takes  its  name  from  its  manifest 
loudness  for  myrtle-berries  (or  "  bavbcrries," 
:is  they  are  also  called),  and  is  very  likelv  to  be 
found  wherever  that  fruit  is  plentiful. 

The  Myrtle  \\';irbler  has  two  common  call 
notes :  one  which  suggests  the  syllable  szveet, 
uttered  with  the  inflection  of  inquiry,  and  most 
cotnmonly  heard  in  the  autumn ;  the  other,  a 
shorter  and  less  musical  note  of  a  sibilant  quality. 
Its  iriost  commonly  heard  summer  song  has  been 
called  a  "  sleigh-bell  trill,"  and  is  a  tinkling  little 
warble  usually  involving  the  reiteration  four  or 
five  times  of  the  same  note,  which  is  followed  by 
two  or  three  a  litle  higher  or  lower. 


130 


BIRDS   OF    AMERICA 


AUDUBON'S  WARBLER 
Dendroica  auduboni  auduboni  ( ./.  A'.  Toi^'iisniii ) 

A     II     r,    \uml)cr   i.v 


Other    Name. —  Western    ^■ell()w-rumpe(l   Warbler. 

General  Description. —  Lengtli,  5'j  inches.  Upper 
parts,  gray,  streaked  with  black ;  under  parts,  black  and 
white  :  yellow  patches  above  and  below.  Bill,  shorter 
than  head,  slender,  tapering  gradually  to  the  tip  ;  wings, 
long  and  pointed ;  tail,  nearly  even. 

Color. — Adult  Male  tn  Spring  and  Sltmmer: 
.\bove,  bluish  slate-gray,  streaked,  e.xcept  sometimes  on 
upper  sides  and  back  of  head,  and  hindneck,  with 
black,  the  streaks  broadest  on  back,  shoulders,  and 
upper  tail-coverts,  where  partaking  more  of  the  char- 
acter of  wedge-shaped  central  spots  ;  crozvn  ivith  a  large 
central  elongated  patch  of  rich  lemon-  or  gamboge- 
yellow;  lower  rump  with  a  triangular  patch  of  lighter 
lemon-yellozv;  wings,  black,  the  middle  and  greater 
coverts  very  broadly  tipped  with  white,  the  latter  also 
broadly  edged  with  white,  forming  a  large  and  con- 
spicuous wing-patch,  the  wing- feathers  narrowly  edged 
with  gray  (broader  on  inner  feathers)  ;  tail,  black  with 
bluish-gray  edgings  (becoming  white  on  outermost 
feather)  ;  inner  webs  of  four  or  five  outermost  feathers 
with  a  large  patch  of  white  near  the  tip,  decreasing  in 
size  inwardly;  sides  of  head,  bluish  slate-gray,  like 
general  color  of  upper  parts,  darkening  (sometimes  into 
nearly  black)  below  and  in  front  of  eyes,  and  relieved 
by  a  white  spot  on  upper  eyelid  and  a  larger  one  on 
lower  eyelid ;  chin  and  throat,  bright  lemon-yellow ; 
chest,  black,  or  mixed  black  and  gray  ;  center  portion 
of  breast,  together  with  abdomen  and  under  tail-coverts, 
white;  sides  of  breast,  next  to  white  space,  black, 
forming  a  large  patch,  confluent  forward  with  the  black 
or  partly  black  throat  area,  and  continued  backward 
over  sides  and  flanks  in  broad  streaks;  a  large  patch  of 
yellow  on  each  side  of  breast  outside  the  black  area; 
bill,  black;  iris,  brown;  legs  and  feet,  dark  brown  or 
brownish-black.  Adult  Male  in  Autumn  or  Winter: 
Much  duller  and  browner  than  the  suminer  male,  and 
showing  much  less  of  black,  that  of  chest  and  sides 
mostly  overlaid  by  broad  tips  or  margins  to  feathers 
of  brownish-white;  gray  of  upper  parts  much  obscured 
by  a  wash  of  brown,  and   white  wing-markings  tinged 


with  brown.  Adult  Female  in  Spring  and  Summer: 
Essentially  like  the  summer  male  in  coloration,  but 
niucli  duller  and  with  less  of  black  on  under  parts; 
gray  of  upper  parts,  duller,  usually  tinged  with  brown  ; 
yellow  crown-patch  smaller  and  broken  by  brown  or 
brownish  gray  tips  to  feathers ;  middle  and  greater 
wing-coverts,  more  narrowly  tipped  with  duller  white, 
the  latter  not  edged  with  white;  yellow  of  throat  paler, 
usually  passing  into  white  on  chin  ;  chest  and  sides  of 
breast,  white  or  pale  grayish,  spotted  or  clouded  with 
black  ;  lateral  breast  patches  smaller  and  paler  yellow. 
.Adult  Female  in  Autumn  and  Winter:  Similar  to 
the  winter  male,  but  smaller  and  still  duller  in  color, 
the  back  without  sharply  defined  streaks  of  black, 
yellow  of  throat  and  lateral  pectoral  patches  paler 
and  more  restricted,  and  chest  and  sides  of  breast 
without  sharply  defined  partly  concealed  black  spots. 
Young  in  First  Plumage:  Above  thickly  streaked 
with  dusky  on  a  pale  brownish-gray  ground  color,  the 
latter  here  and  there  inclining  to  grayish-white,  the 
streaks  broader  and  more  blackish  on  back  and 
shoulders  ;  lower  rump,  grayish-white,  narrowly  streaked 
with  dusky ;  under  parts,  grayish-white,  everywhere 
streaked   with   dusky. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest:  Usually  in  coniferous 
trees,  on  outer  limbs  from  3  to  30  feet  up ;  constructed 
of  strips  of  bark,  sage  brush  twigs,  or  pine  needles, 
lined  with  rootlets,  hair,  and  feathers.  Eggs  :  Gen- 
erally 4,  rarely  5,  olive-whitish  or  pale  greenish-white, 
thinly  spotted  with  black,  brown,  and  lilac-gray. 

Distribution. —  Western  North  America,  north  to 
British  Columbia,  east  to  western  border  of  the  Great 
Plains;  breeding  southward  (in  coniferous  woods  on 
high  mountains)  to  southern  California,  northern 
Arizona,  and  New  Mexico,  eastward  to  western 
Nebraska,  Wyoming  and  Colorado ;  wintering  from 
western  United  States  (in  lower  valleys)  southward 
over  whole  of  Mexico  and  Lower  California  to  high- 
lands of  Guatemala,  eastward  to  western  Te.xas  and 
western  Kansas ;  accidental  in  Massachusetts  and 
Pennsylvania. 


Because  of  its  resemblance  to  the  Myrtle 
Warbler,  especially  as  to  the  arrangement  of  the 
yellow  patches  in  its  plumage,  Audubon's 
Warbler  is  often  called  the  \\'estern  Yellow- 
rumped  Warbler,  but  a  careful  observer  is  not 
likely  to  overlook  the  broad  white  wing-patch 
which  is  a  sure  mark  of  identification  of  the 
.Audubon  and  distinguishes  it  from  the  Myrtle, 
or  Yellow-rumped,  \\'arbler.  Futhermore,  the 
breeding  ranges  of  the  two  birds  are  widely 
separated,  and  it  is  only  during  their  fall  migra- 
tion that  they  are  found  frequently  in  the  same 
territorv. 


Gray  plumage  is  not  common  among  the  birds 
of  the  Northwest,  and  for  that  reason  the  little 
Audubon  gets  a  good  deal  of  attention  in  that 
region.  Moreover  he  is  one  of  the  first  of  the 
small  birds  to  arrive  at  his  breeding  grounds, 
where  to  some  extent  he  is  even  a  winter  resident 
—  in  Washington,  for  example. 

Mr.  Finley  questions  the  statement  of  some 
observers  as  to  the  nest  building  being  done 
solely  by  the  female  Audubon  Warbler.  He  says : 
"  My  experience  with  this  bird  is  that  it  is  no 
different  than  the  other  Warblers.  In  some 
cases,  I  find  the  female  takes  the  more  important 


WARIU.ERS 


131 


"**^    ''n-s 


Drawing  by  R.  Bruce  HorsfaU 

AUDUBON'S  WARBLER  (nat^  size) 
A  persistent  and  skillful  flycatcher 


part  in  the  home  building  and  the  care  of  the 
young ;  in  other  cases,  the  pair  work  side  by  side. 
The  individuahties  of  birds  of  the  same  species 
are  often  very  difTerent.  My  experience  with 
the  Audubon  Warbler  is  that  it  does  not  nest  in 
the  same  tree  year  after  year,  although  there  may 
be  specific  instances  of  this  kind.  I  have  noted 
this  fact  in  some  birds,  and  to  me  it  indicates  that 
the  same  birds,  or  at  least  one  of  the  same  pair, 
have  returned.  The  Audubon  Warbler  is  a  fre- 
quent resident  of  our  Douglas  firs,  and  through 
western  Oregon  and  Washington  nests  much 
lower  than  ii,ooo  feet."     (MS.) 

They  are  persistent  and  skillful  flycatchers. 
and  their  sallies  and  aerial  zigzagging  are  very 
cleverly  executed.  The  call-note  is  a  tcliip  simi- 
lar to  that  of  the  Myrtle  \\'arbler.  The  song, 
Bowles  says,  is  "  a  short  though  pleasing  little 
warble,  surprisingly  feeble  for  so  large  a  bird. 


and  in  no  way  equal  to  that  nf  its  smaller  rela- 
tive, the  Yellow  Warbler." 

In  Arizona  and  northern  Mexico  is  found  a 
\  ariant  form  of  Audubon's  \\'arbler.  It  is  larger 
and  much  darker.  Its  foreneck,  chest,  and  the 
entire  breast  except  the  lower  central  portion  and 
the  yellow  patches  on  the  side  are  uniform  black 
and  give  to  the  bird  its  name  of  Black-fronted 
A\'arbler  (Dcndroica  auduboni  nigrifrons) . 


MAGNOLIA  WARBLER 
Dendroica  magnolia  (  Wilson) 


\.    O.   II.    \umher  65 

Other  Names. —  Black  and  Yellow  Warbler;  Spotted 
\\':uMor ;    I'.luc-headcd   Yellow-riimped   Warbler. 

General  Description.— Length.  4I4  inches.  Upper 
parts,    black    with    yellow    and    white    patches:     under 


See  Color   Plate  g; 

parts,  yellow  with  black  streaks.  Kill,  shorter  than 
head,  slender,  tapering  gradually  to  the  tip :  wings, 
long  and  pointed  :  tail,  even  or  nearly  so. 

Color. — .Xnri.T    M  me  :       Cro-.^'n    and    hindurck.    uni- 


132 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


jonn  bluish  slate-gray,  margined  laterally  by  a  white 
streak  beginning  on  upper  eyelid  and  extending  over 
ear  region ;  a  white  spot  on  lower  eyelid ;  forehead, 
lores,  space  below  eyes,  sides  of  head,  sides  of  neck, 
back,  and  shoulders,  uniform  deep  black,  the  last 
sometimes  margined  with  olive-grayish ;  rump,  clear 
lemon-yellow,  the  upper  portion  streaked  with  black 
and  sometimes  partly  olive-greenish ;  upper  tail-coverts, 
black;  tail,  black,  the  outer  webs  of  feathers  edged  with 
gray,  their  inner  webs  (except  middle  pair)  crossed 
in  middle  portion  by  a  broad  band  of  white,  about  one- 
half  inch  wide;  wings,  black,  the  middle  and  greater 
coverts  broadly  margined  and  tipped  zoith  white,  form- 
ing a  targe  and  conspicuous  patch,  the  wing  quills  and 
primary  coverts,  narrowly  edged  with  gray ;  under 
parts,  except  under  tail-coverts,  rich  lemon-yellow,  the 
chest,  sides,  and  flanks,  very  broadly  streaked  with 
black  —  these  black  markings  sometimes  confluent  on  the 
chest;  under  tail-coverts  and  under  wing-coverts, 
white;  bill,  black;  iris,  brown;  legs  and  feet,  dusky- 
brown.  Adult  Female:  Much  duller  in  color  than 
the  male ;  gray  of  crown  and  hindneck  duller,  passing 
into  dull  olive-greenish  on  back,  where  usually  blotched 
or  spotted  with  black,  rarely  mostly  black ;  lower  rump 
crossed   by  a  band  ot   olive-yellow;   upper  tail-coverts, 


black  centrally  margmed  with  slate-gray  ;  tail  as  in 
male  but  black  duller ;  wmgs,  duller  black  than  in  male, 
with  less  of  white  on  middle  and  greater  coverts;  sides 
of  head  sometimes  as  in  adult  male,  usually  duller  in 
color,  sometimes  with  olive-grayish  replacing  black ; 
under  parts  paler  and  duller  yellow  than  in  male,  with 
chest  and  sides  less  heavily  marked  with  black. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest  :  Generally  in  a  hemlock 
from  4  to  15  feet  up;  put  together  in  a  slovenly  manner 
and  made  of  twigs,  grass,  weed  stalks,  or  fine  rootlets, 
but  always  plentifully  lined  with  horse-hair  whenever 
obtainable  (in  its  absence  fine  black  roots  are  utilized). 
Eggs  :  4,  rarely  5,  creamy-white,  boldly  blotched  with 
shades  of  chestnut,  brown,  and  a  few  lilac  spots. 

Distribution. —  Eastern  North  America,  north  to 
Anticosti  Island,  Magdalen  Islands,  southern  shores  of 
Hudson  Bay,  and  in  the  interior  to  the  Great  Slave 
Lake  district ;  breeding  southward  to  northern  and 
western  Massachusetts,  mountains  of  Pennsylvania, 
northern  Michigan,  Manitoba,  etc.;  west  to  eastern  base 
of  Rocky  Mountains,  casually  to  California  and  British 
Columbia ;  southward  in  migration  through  more  south- 
ern United  States  east  of  Rocky  Mountains  ;  in  winter, 
Bahamas,  Cuba,  Haiti,  and  Porto  Rico,  and  through 
eastern  Mexico  and  Central  America  to  Panama. 


"  Black  and  Yellow  Warbler,"  the  name  for- 
merly applied  to  the  Magnolia  Warbler,  had  the 
advantage  of  being  colorably  descriptive,  but  the 
disadvantage  of  being  equally  accurate  in  that 
respect  as  applied  to  no  less  than  three  other 
species  of  the  same  group,  the  Prairie,  the 
Canada,  and  the  Cape  May  Warblers.  Hence  the 
change  to  the  popular  specific  name.  Magnolia, 
was  well-considered. 

The  species  is  one  of  the  handsomest  of  a 
family  famous  for  the  beauty  of  so  many  of  its 
members.  The  contrast  between  its  character- 
istic colors,  black,  yellow,  and  white  (the  white 
wing-bars  being  very  plainly  marked)  makes  it 
conspicuous,  despite  its  small  size,  rapid  move- 


ments, and  fondness  for  dense  spruce  foliage 
in  which  a  neutral-colored  bird  might  easily  be 
overlooked.  The  bird  is  also  likely  to  be  found 
in  spring  in  willow  thickets  near  water,  while  in 
autumn  it  shows  a  liking  for  scrub-oak  and  birch 
timber,  especially  on  hillsides.  In  its  movements, 
it  is  quick  and  fidgety,  and  it  has  a  trick  of  partly 
spreading  its  tail,  thereby  showing  the  character- 
istic white-banded  feathers. 

No  two  writers  agree  as  to  the  song  of  this 
bird.  This  difference  of  opinion  would  indicate 
that  the  Magnolia  has  a  greater  variety  of  notes 
than  any  other  Warbler.  Each  observer  likens 
its  song  to  that  of  another  bird,  and  this  Warbler 
seems  to  have  no  song  peculiar  to  itself. 


CERULEAN    WARBLER 
Dendroica  cerulea    (  U'ilson) 


A.    (1.   U.    Number  65) 

Other  Names. —  Blue  Warbler:  Azure  Warbler. 

General  Description. —  Length,  414  inches.  Upper 
parts,  grayish-blue  and  black ;  under  parts,  white.  Bill, 
shorter  than  head,  slender,  tapering  gradually  to  the 
tip ;  wings,  long  and  pointed  ;  tail,  even  or  nearly  so. 

Color. — Adult  M.\le:  Above,  grayish-blue,  brighter 
on  crozvn,  ivhere  approaching  azure;  sides  of  back  part 
of  crown  and  back  of  head  streaked  with  black,  some- 
times    sufifused     into     patches ;     back     and     shoulders. 


See   Color    ri.ite  94 

streaked  with  black;  upper  tail-coverts,  black  margined 
with  grayish-blue ;  wings  and  tail,  black  margined  with 
grayish-blue  edgings,  the  middle  and  greater  coverts, 
broadly  tipped  with  white,  forming  two  conspicuous 
bands;  the  inner  web  of  tail-feathers  with  a  patch  of 
white  near  the  tip.  largest  on  outermost ;  sides  of  head, 
grayish-blue,  relieved  by  a  streak  of  dusky  behind  eye, 
this  often  margined  above  by  a  streak  of  white:  cheeks 
and   under   parts,   white,   the   sides   and  flanks   broadly 


WARBLERS 


133 


jlrcakrd  icitli  dusky  ( suffused,  especially  on  sides  of 
breast,  with  grayish-blue),  the  chest  usually  crossed  by 
a  narrow  band  of  blackish  suffused  with  grayish-blue, 
this  band  often  interrupted  in  the  middle,  sometimes 
wanting:  bill,  black,  grayish-blue  below;  iris,  brown; 
legs  and  feet,  brownish-dusky.  Adult  Fkmai.f,  :  Above, 
varying  from  light  bluish-gray  to  grayish  olive-green, 
the  crown  brighter  (grayisli  glaucous-blue  to  sage- 
green),  entirely-  unstreaked ;  wings  and  tail  as  in  adult 
male,  but  edgings,  light  greenish  or  olive-grayish  instead 
of  bluish  ;  a  whitish  or  pale  yellowish  stripe  over  eye ; 
sides  of  head,  grayish  or  grayish  olive-green,  darker 
along  upper  margin,  somewhat  streaked  with  whitish  or 
pale  yellowish  toward  the  front;  under  jiarts  dull  wliite, 
usually  suffused  with  pale  yellow  (sometimes  strongly 
so),  especially  on  sides  of  neck  and  across  chest. 

Nest   and   Eggs. —  Nest:     Placed  in   forks  of   small 
branches    of    deciduous    trees,    at    some    distance    from 


trunk,  and  Irnni  twenty  In  I'l  fty  feet  up;  compactly 
built  of  fine  grasses  and  pl.mt  fibers  securely  bound 
together  by  spiders'  web^  and  decorated  with  bits  of 
lichen.  Eg(;s  ;  Usually  ,i  or  4.  wliite.  dull  bluish  or 
greenish-white  speckled  with  reddish-brown  ami  lilac 
chiefly  around  large  end. 

Distribution. —  Eastern  United  States,  chiefly  west  of 
the  Allegbenies ;  breeding  northward  to  eastern 
Nebraska.  Minnesota.  Wisconsin.  Michigan  (as  far  as 
Mackinac  Island).  Ontario,  western  and  central  New 
York,  eastward  to  eastern  Maryland  and  western  Vir- 
ginia, southward  to  Tennessee.  Louisiana,  etc. ;  casually 
or  irregularly  northward  to  Connecticut,  Rhode  Island. 
Long  Island,  and  New  Jersey;  west  re.gularly  to  edge 
of  the  Great  Plains,  occasionally  to  Rocky  Mountains; 
in  winter  south  to  Cuba  and  Crand  Cayman  and  through 
eastern  Mexico.  Central  .\merica.  and  Western  South 
America   to   central    Peru   and    I'.olivia. 


Nothing  looks  more  strange  in  otir  northern 
woods  than  the  azure  blue  of  the  sky  animated  in 
the  personality  of  a  Cerulean  Warbler.  Strange 
it  is  because  such  dainty  blues  belong  rather  to 
the  tropics  and  even  there  are  rare.  Blue  it  is, 
strong  yet  dainty,  nut  vivid,  seeming  even  to  be 
too  unreal  to  lie  enduring.  And  animated  it  is, 
belying  the  lirst  impression  of  unreality  by  an 
energetic  manner  that  makes  the  bird  noticeable. 
Tf  the  \\'arbler  has  a  green  or  brown  background 
he  can  he  seen,  but  against  the  heaven's  blue  he 
is  lost  to  tlie  eye.  \^'ait  for  a  damp  day  and  he 
will  come  dnwn  intii  the  lower  limbs  of  the  trees 
and  the  observations  of  him  will  be  much  im- 
])roved. 

It  is  mainly  in  swiuiipy  woodland  from  the 
Genesee   and    Monongahela   valleys   west    tn   the 


lower  Missouri  valley  that  the  Cerulean  Warbler 
is  common. 

This  is  another  bird  that.  Cuming  up  out  of 
the  Southwest  in  migratiun,  has  not  been  con- 
tent with  a  Mississip]ii  valley  home,  but  has 
pushed  on  into  the  Xortheast.  There  is  some 
difference  of  opinion  as  to  the  question  of  its 
frequency  a  century  ago  in  the  East,  but  the 
observations  seem  to  show  that  there  is  a  decided 
increase  in  its  numbers  in  central  New  York. 
The  accidental  records  along  the  Atlantic  coast 
do  not  seem  to  be  increased  by  the  gradually 
a])i:/roaching  northeastern  boundary. 

The  Cerulean  is  not  a  very  attractive  singer 
but  he  is  persistent.  I  lis  .:(■('.  s:cc,  ccc.  cc-cc-cc- 
cep  becomes  to  the  ordinary  listener  but  a  part 
i)f  the  Inizz  iif  summer. 


CHESTNUT-SIDED  WARBLER 
Dendroica  pensylvanica    (Liiiihciis) 


Other  Names.—  Golden-crowned  IHycatcher  ;  iiloody- 
side  Warbler;  Yellow-crowned  Warbler;  ( )uebec  War- 
bler. 

General  Description. —  Length,  5  inches.  Upper 
parts,  white,  grayish,  and  olive-yellow  with  black 
streaks;  under  parts,  white  with  jiatches  of  chestnut. 
Pjill.  shorter  than  head,  slender,  tapering  gradually  to 
the  tip  ;   wings,  long  and  pointed ;  tail,  notched. 

Color.— .-\dult  M.\le;  Forchaul  and  cr,wu.  olivc- 
\clUn<\  the  former  becoming  whitish  in  front,  both 
sometimes  flecked  with  dusky  ;  lores,  sjiace  below  eye, 
cheeks,  stripe  behind  eye.  and  hindneck.  black,  the  last 
two  streaked  with  white,  grayish,  or  yellowish,  back  of 


head  usually  with  a  central  spot  of  white  or  yellowish; 
sides  of  head,  neck,  chin,  throat,  and  under  |iarts, 
white,  yclicvcd  by  a  broad  lalcnil  stnpc  of  rich  chcsl- 
nut .  extending  from  rear  of  black  cheek  stripe  along 
the  sides,  usually  to  the  flanks,  but  soinetimes  not 
beyond  sides  of  breast;  back  and  shoulders,  broadly 
streaked  with  black  on  a  white,  grayish,  and  olive- 
yellow  ground,  the  last-mentioned  color  usually  pre- 
vailing: rump,  usually  yellowish  olive-green,  sometimes 
grayish,  with  or  without  black  streaks ;  upper  tail- 
coverts,  black,  broadly  margined  with  light  gray  ( some- 
times tinged  with  yellowish  olive-green)  tail  black  with 
narrow     olive-grayish     edgings,     the     three     outermost 


134 


BIRI^S   OF    AMERICA 


feathers  with  inner  webs  extensively  white  terminally, 
that  on  the  exterior  feather  occupying  the  terminal 
half,  or  more;  wings,  black  with  yellowish  olive-green 
edgings  (becoming  grayish  on  primary  coverts),  the 
middle  and  greater  coverts,  broadly  tipped,  the  latter 
also  edged,  with  sulphur-yellow ;  lesser  coverts,  mar- 
gined with  gray  or  olive-gray ;  bill,  blackish ;  iris, 
brown;  legs  and  feet,  dusky-brown.  Adult  Female: 
.Similar  to  adult  male,  but  duller  in  color,  the  forehead 
and  crown,  light  olive-green  rather  than  olive-yellow, 
the  black  areas  on  sides  of  head,  less  deep  black  often 
much  broken  by  grayish  streaking  or  mottling,  some- 
times replaced  by  grayish,  and  much  more  restricted; 
chestnut  of  sides  averaging  less  extensive;  greater 
wing-coverts   witliout   chestnut-yellow   edgings. 

Nest    and    Eggs. —  Nest  ;      Usually    placed    in    low 
bushes  or  small  trees,  in  or  close  to  clearings  or  edge  of 


woods  ;  rather  loosely  woven  of  coarse  grass,  strips  of 
bark,  and  plant  down  and  rather  sparsely  lined  with 
liair  and  fine  grass.  Eggs:  Generally  4,  rarely  5,  vary- 
ing from  white  to  crcainy.  speckled  with  rusty-umber, 
reddish-brown,  and   lilac. 

Distribution. —  Eastern  United  States  and  more 
southern  British  Provinces ;  north  to  Nova  Scotia, 
northern  Ontario,  and  Manitoba;  west  to  edge  of  the 
Great  Plains,  casually  to  eastern  Wyoming;  breeding 
southward  to  Connecticut,  northern  New  Jersey,  Penn- 
sylvania, northern  Ohio,  central  Illinois,  Missouri,  and 
eastern  Nebraska,  and  along  Allegheny  Mountains  to 
western  Nortli  Carolina  (2000  to  4000  feet),  north- 
western South  Carolina,  and  eastern  Tennessee  (Roan 
-Mountain,  3500  to  4000  feet )  ;  in  winter  south  through 
eastern  Mexico  and  Central  .America  to  Panama;  acci- 
dental in  Greenland. 


The  Chestnut-sided  Warbler  is  one  of  the 
Warblers  of  intermediate  range,  neither  very 
northerly  nor  very  southerly.  It  is  a  characteristic 
summer  bird  of  the  latitude  of  southern  New 
England  and  of  the  northern  Middle  States. 
Scrub  pastures  and  open  second-growth  wood- 
land are  its  characteristic  haunts.  Not  only  does 
it  wear  the  color  of  chestnut,  but  it  is  partial  to 
the  real  article,  and  wherever,  in  its  range,  there 
is  second-growth  chestnut,  it  is  likely  to  be  found, 
flitting  through  the  foliage,  ever  on  the  lookout 
for  its  insect  prey.  Tt  is  an  active  bird,  yet  a 
gentle  one.  easy  to  ajiproach. 


Its  song,  while  rather  simple,  is  quite  conspic- 
uous in  the  scrub  which  it  frequents,  and  on 
roadside  borders  of  pasture-land.  Sometimes,  if 
one  should  follow  up  the  song,  the  male  will  be 
found  perched  in  the  sunshine  at  the  very  top  of 
a  young  tree,  or  on  a  dead  branch,  singing  away 
at  a  great  rate. 

Whereas  growing  scarcity  of  birds  is  usually 
the  prevailing  plaint,  the  Chestnut-sided  Warbler 
is  a  species  which  must  have  had  notable  increase 
during  the  past  century,  for  Audubon  only  met 
it  once  in  all  his  indefatigable  searches  after 
birds.  Now  he  could  readily  find  it  on  thousands 
of  farms. 

The  nest  usually  has  its  quota  of  four  or  five 
eggs  about  the  last  of  May  or  first  of  June  in 
southern  New  England.  It  is  built  with  rather 
ooser  te-xture  than  some  other  Warblers  employ, 
the  Redstart,  for  example.  Yet  it  is  quite  a  neat 
little  structure,  placed  in  a  fork  of  a  bush  in  its 
favorite  jiasture  haunts,  quite  low  down,  usually 


Drawing  by  R.  I.  Brasher 

CHESTNDT-SIDED  WARBLER  (;    nat.  size) 
One  of  the  easiest  birds  to  photograph  at  the  nest 


WARBLERS 


135 


about  waist  high  from  the  ground.  Thouj;h 
fairly  well  concealed  by  leaves,  it  is  not  generally 
in  so  dense  a  mass  of  foliage  as  some.  1  lia\c 
found  a  number  of  these  nests  by  tajipini;  the 
bushes  with  a  switcli  and  seeing  the  owni-r  dan 
out  or  hearing  the  slight  rustle  of  her  departure. 

The  delight  of  finding  a  nest  is  greatly  en- 
hanced by  the  tameness  of  the  little  owners.  They 
are  among  the  easiest  of  birds  to  photograph  at 
the  nest,  making  little  objection  tn  incubating  or 
feeding  the  young  in  one's  immediate  presence. 
In  one  case  I  was  focusing  the  camera  on  tlu- 
nest,  with  head  under  the  cloth,  when  I  saw  the 
image  of  the  mother  on  the  ground  glass.  She 
let  me  focus  on  her,  and  then  take  all  the  picture; 
I  wanted,  her  feathers  fluffed  up  in  a  very  gentle 
and  pretty  protest. 

On  another  occasion  when  I  was  liird-sporting 
with  a  motion-picture  camera  and  a  boy  assistant. 
seeing  that  the  owners  of  a  nest  of  this  species 
which  1  had  found  were  remarkably  fearless,  I 
had  the  bov  sit  quietly  by  the  nest,  holding  the 
young  in  his  hand.  Tn  a  short  time  the  iiarents, 
who  had  found  us  gentle  and  harmless,  were 
using  him  as  a  convenient  roost  and  were  all 
over  him,  on  legs,  arms,  hands,  and  Iiead.  It  was 
a  wonderful  film  of  these  beautiful  birds  that  I 
thus  secured.  HEKHEirr  K.    Jon. 


.  Job 


Courtesy  uf  Outing  Pub. 
CHESTNUT-SIDED  WARBLER 
est,    a    neat    little    structure,    placed  in  a  fo 


BAY-BREASTED   WARBLER 
Dendroica  castanea  {Wilson) 


Other  Names. —  Little  Chocolate-hreast  Titmoii.^e ; 
Bay-breast. 

General  Description. —  Lengtli,  6  inches.  Upper 
parts.  butify-oHve.  black,  and  chestnut ;  under  parts, 
chestnut  and  bufT.  Bill,  shorter  tlian  head,  slender, 
tapering  gradually  to  the  tip;  wings,  long  and  pointed; 
tail,  notched. 

Color. — Adult  Male:  Foychcad.  sides  of  crozvn. 
sides  of  hi-ad.  I. ires,  and  elu-eks.  Idacl,'  einlosiiu/  a  patch 
of  rich  clicstnut :  sides  of  neck,  plain  buff;  back  and 
shoulders,  gray,  usually  tinged  (sometimes  strongly) 
with  buffy-olive  and  broadly  streaked  with  black ;  rump, 
similar  but  with  streaks  concealed;  upper  tail-coverts, 
gray  with  center  streaks  of  blackish  ;  tail,  grayish-black 
or  dusky  with  light-gray  edgings,  the  inner  webs  of  two 
or  three  outermost  tail-feathers  with  a  patch  of  white, 
that  on  exterior  feather  occupying  the  terminal  third  or 
more ;  wings,  grayish-black  or  dusky  with  light  olive- 
gray  or  olive  edgings,  the  middle  and  greater  coverts 
broadly  tipped  with  white,  forming  two  conspicuous 
bands  across  wing;  Ihrnal  ( snmrliinrs  chin  also),  chest, 
sides,  and  flanks,  plain  lioht  cheslnul :  rest  of  under 
parts,  plain  pale  buff,  the  under  tail-coverts  more 
decidedly  buffy  ;  bill,  brownish-black;   iris,  brown;  legs 


and  feet,  dusky-brownish.  .Aiici.T  Fem.kle:  Essen- 
tially similar  to  the  male  e.xcept  in  extent  of  the  chest- 
nut, which  is  often  almost  entirely  absent,  and  never  so 
strongly  marked ;  whole  crown  usually  distinctly 
streaked  with  black  on  a  gray,  olive,  or  olive-green 
ground,  the  crown  and  back  of  the  head  usually  inter- 
mixed with  chestnut,  sometimes  with  a  considerable 
patch  of  that  color ;  chestnut  of  under  parts  sometimes 
wholly  absent,  but  usually  the  area  so  colored  in  the 
male  is  indicated,  especially  across  chest  and  along 
sides;   forehead  and  sides  of  head  never   (?)   black. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest  :  Commonly  placed  in  a 
coniferous  tree  from  five  to  twenty  feet  up ;  a  com- 
pact, cup-shaped  structure  made  of  rootlets,  strips  of 
bark,  small  twigs,  and  some  dried  grass.  Eggs: 
Usually  4,  bluish-white,  finely  speckled  around  larger 
end  with  chestnut. 

Distribution. —  Eastern  United  States  and  British 
Provinces;  north  to  Hudson  Bay  and  Manitoba;  west 
to  edge  of  the  Great  Plains ;  bree<ling  southward  to 
northern  Maine,  New  Hampshire.  Vermont,  New  York, 
and  northern  Michigan  ;  in  winter  southward  throu,gh 
eastern  Mexico  and  Central  ."Xnierica  to  Panama  and 
Colombia. 


136 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


The  Bay-breasted  Warbler  is  a  bird  of  the 
Canadian  forests  noticeable  to  civilization  mainly 
in  its  spring  and  fall  migrations.  The  migra- 
tion of  the  bird  is  one  of  the  most  interesting 
things  yet  known  about  it.  Between  Canada  and 
its  winter  home  in  Colombia  and  Panama,  it 
restricts  itself  to  areas  that  lead  to  the  upper 
northern  and  northeastern  waters  of  the  Missis- 
sippi basin. 

Following  the  basin  down  the  Gulf  coast, 
the  bird  makes  the  great  flight  across  the 
Gulf  of  Mexico  and  the  Caribbean  Sea  to 
Panama  and  the  adjacent  Colombian  shores.  The 
bird  thus  evades  Virginia,  Florida  and  the  West 


Indies  on  the  east,  and  Mexico  on  the  west.  Why 
this  little  deep  buff-colored  bird  should  evolve 
such  a  route  is  a  puzzle.  In  the  United  States 
it  has  been  found  nesting  in  the  Maine  woods 
and  in  the  White  Mountains. 

It  is  a  trifle  larger  than  most  of  the  tree-top 
Warblers,  a  trifle  duskier,  and  rather  quieter  in 
its  habits.  It  has  more  of  the  leisurely  manner 
of  the  Vireo. 

There  is  much  variation  in  the  Bav-hreast's 
song  and  this,  together  with  its  resemblances  to 
the  songs  of  the  Blackburnian,  the  Black-poll, 
the  Black  and  White,  and  the  Cape  Mav 
\\'arblers.  makes  it  difficult  to  identify. 


BLACK-POLL  WARBLER 


Dendroica  striata 


Other  Names. —  Black-poll ;  Autumnal  Warliler. 

General  Description. —  Length,  Sz-i  inches.  Male: 
Upper  parts,  gray  streaked  with  black ;  under  parts, 
white  streaked  with  black.  Female:  Upper  parts, 
olive  streaked  with  black ;  under  parts,  white  and  yellow 
streaked  with  black.  Bill,  shorter  than  head,  slender, 
tapering  gradually  to  the  tip  :  wings,  long  and  pointed  ; 
tail,  notched. 

Color. —  AnuLT  Male  in  Spring  and  Summer: 
Entire  crown,  uniform  black;  hindneck,  streaked  with 
black  and  white,  in  varying  relative  proportion  ;  back 
and  shoulders,  broadly  streaked  with  black  on  a  gray 
or  pale  olive  ground ;  rump  and  upper  tail-coverts 
similar  but  less  distinctly  streaked,  often  ( especially 
the  rump)  without  streaks;  tail,  dusky,  with  light  gray 
edgings,  the  inner  webs  of  two  or  three  outermost 
feathers  with  a  patch  of  white  near  the  tip  (largest  on 
the  outside  one)  ;  wings,  dusky  with  light  olive  edgings 
(more  yellowish-olive  on  primaries),  the  middle  and 
greater  coverts  broadly  tipped  with  white,  forming  two 
conspicuous  bands;  sides  of  head,  white,  including 
lower  eyelid,  space  below  eye,  and  cheeks;  sides  of 
neck,  streaked  with  black  and  white ;  under  parts, 
white,  broadly  streaked  laterally  with  black,  the  black 
streaks  on  sides  of  throat  merging  into  two  stripes  con- 
verging and  usually  united  on  chin,  forining  a  con- 
spicuous I'-shapcd  mark:  under  tail-coverts,  pure 
white ;  bill,  dusky ;  iris,  brown ;  legs  and  feet,  pale 
yellowish-brown.  Adult  Male  in  Autumn  and 
Winter:  Above,  dull  olive-green  passing  gradually 
into  dull  gray  on  upper  tail-coverts ;  back  and  shoulders 
(sometimes  also  the  crown,  rump,  or  upper  tail-coverts), 
narrowly  streaked  with  black ;  wings  and  tail  as  in  sum- 


I.  R.  Forstcr) 

.See   t'olor    Plate  96 

mer  plumage,  but  white  wing-bands  usually  tinged  with 
yellow  ;  over  the  eye  a  narrow  and  indistinct  streak  of 
pale  olive-yellowish,  the  upper  eyelid  whitish  ;  ear  region 
and  sides  of  neck,  olive  or  dull  olive-greenish,  like 
color  of  upper  parts;  cheeks,  chin,  throat,  chest,  breast, 
and  sides,  pale  olive-yellow  or  straw-yellow,  the  sides 
and  flanks  indistinctly  streaked  with  dusky ;  abdomen, 
anal  region,  and  under  tail-coverts,  white.  Adult 
Female:  Above,  varying  from  olive-green  to  gray, 
streaked  with  blackish,  the  streaks  usually  obsolete  or 
nearly  so  on  rump ;  wings  and  tail  as  in  adult  male,  but 
white  wing-bands  tinged  with  yellow  ( except  in  speci- 
mens having  a  gray  upper  surface)  ;  inider  parts,  vary- 
ing from  white  to  pale  olive-yellow  (with  all  inter- 
mediate conditions  —  the  under  tail-coverts  always 
white),  streaked  laterally  with  black  or  dusky,  the 
streaks  usually  most  distinct  on  sides  of  throat  and 
breast. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest  :  Placed  in  small  spruces 
from  three  to  eight  feet  up  ;  constructed  of  small  twigs, 
rootlets,  lichens,  and  grasses  and  lined  with  feathers, 
fine  grasses,  and  down.  Eggs  :  4  or  5,  creamy  or 
grayish-white,  speckled  and  blotched  with  varying 
shades  of  chestnut,  lilac,  and  gray. 

Distribution. —  North  and  South  America ;  breeds 
from  the  limit  of  trees  in  northwestern  Alaska,  northern 
Mackenzie,  central  Keewatin.  northern  Ungava.  and 
Newfoundland  south  to  central  British  Columbia,  Mani- 
toba, Michigan,  northern  Maine,  and  mountains  of 
Vermont  and  New  Hampshire;  winters  from  Guiana 
and  Venezuela  to  Brazil ;  migrates  through  the  Bahamas 
and  West  Indies;  casual  in  New  Mexico,  Mexico, 
Chile,   and  Ecuador ;   accidental  in   Greenland. 


The  Black-poll  Warbler  is  frequently  associated 
in  its  breeding  range  with  its  nearest  relative,  the 
Bay-breast.  Like  the  Bay-breast,  the  Black-poll 
has  an  extraordinary  migration  range.  The  areas 
over  which  these  two  kinds  of  Warblers  travel 
are,  however,  quite  different.    Black-poll,  nesting 


in  Alaska  and  northern  Canada  as  far  as  the 
northern  limit  of  trees,  passes  south  in  migration 
pretty  well  over  the  whole  of  the  United  States 
east  of  the  Missouri  River,  concentrating  its  lines 
in  Florida,  and  goes  on  from  island  to  island  the 
whole  length  of  the  West  Indies,  over  the  Span- 


Courtesy  of   t!-.-  N-^v  York  Stilo  Museu 


Plate  96 


BLACK-POLL  WARBLER     D'Hihoica  atriaUi  (J.  R.  Forster) 
CHESTNUT-SIDED  WARBLER      Dfndrmm  pi-naijhnnica  (I.innaou3) 
All  i  nat.  size 


WARBLERS 


137 


ish  Main,  to  the  interior  of  Brazil,  Xot  a  Black- 
l)oII  winters  north  of  South  America.  This 
means  that  if  a  BraziHan  liird  nests  in  .Alaska, 
he  has  five  thousand  miles  to  tra\el  twice 
a  year.  At  the  shortest,  from  the  mouth  of  the 
Orinoco  to  the  .\dirondacks  there  are  twenty- 
five  hundred  miles  to  travel. 

Coming-  north  as  it  does  among  the  latest  of  the 
Warblers,  Black-poll  is  very  diflicult  to  see.  The 
trees,  already  far  advanced  in  foliage,  easily  hide 
him ;  and  when  the  Black-poll  remains,  as  he 
often  does,  in  the  tops,  he  is  well  out  of  sight. 
His  song  resembles  the  Black  and  White  War- 
bler's, but  the  notes  are  separated,  not  in  [jairs. 
The  hesitating,  sibilant  notes  have  crescendo  and 
diminuendo  efifects  that  make  it  possible  to  dis- 
tinguish the  song  from  its  near  relatives.  Once 
learned,  the  song  in  the  leafy  trees  is  a  clue  to 


his  presence,  and  the  search  mav  bring  him   to 
view. 

The  Black-[.)oll  delays  into  June  before  leaving 
the  areas  just  south  of  its  breeding  range,  while 
the  more  northern  breeding  birds  are  on  their 
way  to  Alaska  and  the  lower  Mackenzie.  There 
are  a  few  that  nest  in  the  northern  tier  of  .States 
west  to  Montana,  but  most  often,  j.iossibly 
always,  in  evergreens,  the  preference  being  for 
short  thick  clum]is  of  sjjruces. 

Again  in  the  f.ill  the  Black-poll  seems  loath  to 
leave,  waiting  behind  the  other  \\'arblers.  He 
does  not  leave  the  northern  States  before  October. 
His  Vireo-like  movements  often  make  him  more 
noticeable  than  in  the  spring.  At  last  he  does 
decide  to  go.  and  he  is  ofi"  for  the  Amazonian 
forests. 

L.  Nelson  Nichols. 


Photograph  by  R.  W.  Shufeldt 


BLACK-POLL  WARBLER 
Adult  male  in  spring  plumage,  from  life 


BLACKBURNIAN   WARBLER 
Dendroica  fusca  {Mnllcr) 


Other  Names.— Hemlock  Warbler;  'Idrch-bird  ; 
I'ire-lirand  :  rjianyc-throated  Warbler. 

General  Description.— Length.  5'j  inches.  Upper 
parts,  black  or  blackish  with  spots  of  yellow  and  white; 
inider  parts,  orange  and  yellow.  Bill,  shorter  than 
head,  slender,  tapering  gradually  to  the  tip :  wings, 
long  and  pointed  ;  tail,  notched. 

Color. — Adult  M.\le  :  Cro-.vn  ivid  hnidncck.  Mack, 
relieved  by  an  oval  patch  of  oraiuic  on  middle  of 
crown:  a  broad  stripe  of  oramje  o-;'er  eye  confluent 
behind  with  a  large  patch  vf  the  same  on  side  of  neck  : 
a  spot  of  rather  paler  orange-yellow  immediately 
beneath  eye,  including  lower  eyelid ;  loral  streak  and 
sides   of   head,   black,    the   two   connected    by   a    narrow 


See   Color    I 'late   97 

streak  at  the  corner  of  the  mouth;  cheeks,  chin,  throat, 
and  chest,  rich  orange;  remaining  under  parts,  pale 
yellowish  (more  decidedly  yellowish  on  breast),  the 
under  tail-coverts,  white;  sides  and  flanks  streaked  with 
black,  these  black  streaks  commencing  at  lower  rear 
extremity  of  ear  region  ;  .general  color  of  upper  parts, 
black,  the  back  streaked  with  whitish,  especially  the 
exterior  row  of  shoulder-featliers.  which  have  most  of 
the  outer  web  whitish,  forming,  when  feathers  are 
properly  arranged,  two  stripes  alon.g  each  side  of  back ; 
feathers  of  rump  and  upper  tail-coverts  edged  with 
whitish;  two  to  three  outermost  tail-feathers  white. 
with  black  shafts  and  with  a  terminal  wedge-shaped 
mark    of    black;    fourth    tail-feather    also    with    much 


I3« 


BIRDS   OF    AMERICA 


white  on  inner  web  near  the  tip,  and  fifth  sometimes 
witli  a  white  edging  to  the  inner  web;  exposed  portion 
of  middle  wing-coverts  and  innermost  greater  coverts, 
wliite,  forming  a  conspicuous  patch  on  wing,  the  outer- 
most greater  coverts,  black,  broadly  tipped  with  white 
and  narrowly  edged  with  olive-grayish,  these  edgings 
broader  and  paler  (sometimes  white)  on  innermost; 
bill,  brownish-black ;  iris,  brown  ;  legs  and  feet,  dusky- 
brown.  Adult  Female:  Above,  grayish-olive;  crown, 
streaked  with  black  with  a  central  spot  of  pale  yellow  ; 
back,  broadly  streaked  with  black,  the  outsiile  row  of 
shoulder-feathers  with  outer  webs  mostly  very  pale 
buffy-grayish  or  grayish-buffy,  forming  two  broad 
stripes  when  feathers  are  properly  arranged ;  upper 
tail-coverts,  black,  margined  with  brownish-gray  ;  wings 
and  tail,  as  in  adult  male  but  general  color  much  duller 
blackish,  the  lateral  tail-feathers  less  extensively  white 
and  the  white  on  greater  wing-coverts  usually  not 
joining  that  on  middle  coverts,  the  white  thus  usually 
forming  two  broad  bars  instead  of  a  single  large  patch; 
broad  stripe  over  eye  joining  a  patch  on  side  of  neck, 
pale  yellow;  sides  of  head  and  lores,  grayish-olive; 
chin,   throat,   and   chest,    deep    chrome-yellow ;    rest   of 


under  part.^,  dull  yellowish-white,  more  strongly  tinged 
with  yellowish  on  breast,  the  under  tail-coverts,  more 
nearly  white,  the  longest  sometimes  with  a  narrow 
center  streak  of  dusky  ;  sides  and  flanks  streaked  with 
dusky  ;  bill,  iris,  etc.,  as  in  adult  male. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest:  An  elegant,  compact  struc- 
ture of  cat-tail  down,  hemlock  twigs,  fine  grasses,  root- 
lets, and  strips  of  bark  and  lined  with  horse-hair  and 
line  lichens;  placed  almost  always  in  a  conifer,  spruce 
or  hemlock  preferred,  usually  at  great  height,  in  one 
instance  84  feet.  Eccs :  Usually  4,  grayish  or  bluish- 
white,  blotched  and  speckled  with  cinnamon  and  olive- 
brown. 

Distribution. —  Eastern  North  America  and  northern 
South  America ;  breeds  from  Manitoba,  southern 
Keewatin,  central  Ontario,  Quebec,  and  Cape  Breton 
Island  to  central  Minnesota,  Wisconsin,  northern 
Michigan,  Massachusetts,  and  Connecticut,  and  in  the 
Alleghenies  from  Pennsylvania  to  Georgia  and  South 
Carolina ;  winters  from  Colombia  to  central  Peru  and 
less  commonly  north  to  Yucatan ;  in  migration  to 
Nebraska.  Texas,  and  Kansas,  straggling  to  Utah,  New 
Mexico,  and  the  Bahamas. 


"  Torch-bird,"  Mrs.  Mabel  Osgood  W'rigiit 
says,  would  be  a  good  name  for  this  almost  daz- 
zlingly  brilliant  fellow,  and  Mr.  Parkhurst  thii-ks 
he  "  might  properly  be  named  the  conflagration 
warbler,"  and  continues  :  "Called,  prosily  enough, 
from  its  discoverer,  Blackburn,  the  name  is  saved 
to  poetry  by  the  significant  play  upon  words : 
for  while  a  part  of  the  plumage  is  black  as  coal, 
the  crown,  sides  of  face,  throat  and  breast  are  of 
a  most  vivid  flame  color  —  a  most  astoni.shing 
combination  of  orange,  black  and  white,  and 
arranged  in  such  abrupt  juxtaposition  that,  in 
seeing  it  for  the  first  time,  one  will  unquestion- 
ably pronounce  it  the  most  gloriotis  of  all  the 
Warblers.  Its  own  color  ought  to  suffice  to 
keep  it  comfortable  in  the  Arctic  Zone."  (  The 
Birds'  Calendar).  "The  orange-throated  warbler 
would  seem  to  be  his  right  name,  his  character- 
istic cognomen,"  says  Mr.  Burroughs;  "but  no. 
he  is  doomed  to  wear  the  name  of  some  dis- 
coverer, perhaps  the  first   who  robbed  his  nest 


(jr  rifled  him  of  his  mate — Blackburn;  hence 
Blackburnian  W  arbler.  The  burn  seems  appro- 
priate enough,  for  in  these  dark  evergreens  his 
throat  and  breast  show  like  flame." 

These  are  characteristic  expressions  of  the 
wonder  and  delight  which  are  inspired  by  the 
appearance  of  this  gaudy  little  sprite  of  the  deep 
forest.  For  it  is  in  such  growths,  and  especially 
in  the  big  conifers,  that  the  bird  is  most  likely  to 
be  seen,  and  frequently  in  the  company  of  the 
Northern  Parula,  Canada,  and  Black-throated 
Blue  W^arblers,  all  beautiful  little  creatures,  but 
none  so  positively  gay  in  apparel  as  the  Black- 
burnian. Though  not  really  timid,  the  bird's 
characteristic  movements  are  quick  and  nervotis. 
like  those  of  ttiost  of  its  kind.  Like  theirs,  too. 
its  song  is  thin  and  essentially  sibilant  in  its 
quality.  Wee,  see,  see,  see,  si,  si,  si,  Mr.  Hoff- 
mann renders  one  common  versiott  of  it,  while  to 
Mr.  Torrev  another  phrase  sounded  like  sillnp. 
.r.illiip.  sillnp. 


YELLOW-THROATED   WARBLER 
Dendroica   dominica   dominica    i  Liinurus) 

\      <  I      r,     XumlxT    1.1.  I 


Other  Names. —  Yellow-throated  Creeper;  Domin- 
ican Yellow-throat. 

General  Description. —  Length.  5)4  inches.  Upper 
parts,  gray ;  under  parts,  yellow  and  white.  Bill, 
shorter    than    head,    slender,   tapering  gradually    to   the 


tip;  win.gs.  long  and  pointed;  tail,  even  or  nearly  even. 
Color. — .Xdclt  M.\le:  Forehead  (sometimes  crown 
also,  especially  side  portions),  lores,  below  eyes,  and 
greater  part  of  sides  of  head,  black;  back  of  head, 
hindneck.  back,  shoulders,  rutnp.  and  upper  tail-coverts. 


WARBLERS 


139 


plain  slate-gray,  the  cruwn  aKo  sometimes  gray  (except 
on  the  sides)  streaked  witli  black;  wings  and  tail,  black 
with  slate-gray  edgings,  the  middle  and  greater  wing- 
coverts,  broadly  tipped  with  white,  forming  two  con- 
spicuous bands  across  wing;  two  to  three  outermost 
tail-feathers  with  inner  web  extensively  white  at  the 
end.  this  on  side  feather  occupying  approximately  the 
end  half ;  over  the  eye  a  broad  white  stripe  usually 
becoming  yellow  (over  lores)  ;  a  crescentic  spot  below 
eye,  and  patch  on  side  of  neck  ( invading  center  rear 
portion  of  sides  of  head),  white;  throat  ami  chrst. 
lemon-yelloii.',  the  chin,  usually  white;  rest  oi  under 
parts,  white,  broadly  streaked  on  the  Mde^  with  black, 
the  broad  black  streaks  on  sides  of  chest  joining  with  a 
narrow  stripe  connecting  them  with  the  triangular 
black  patch  on  side  of  head;  bill,  black;  iris,  brown; 
legs  and  feet,  dusky  horn  color.  Apult  Fem.\le; 
Similar  to  the  adult  male  and  often  not  distinguishable. 


hut  usually  with  less  black  on  forehead,  which  is  more 
often  gray,  streaked  with  black  centrally,  and  yellow  of 
throat   and   chest   averaging  slightly  paler. 

Nest  and  Eggs.—  Nest  :  Placed  on  pine  limb,  fas- 
tened by  insect  webbing,  generally  rather  higli  u]),  or 
hidden  in  tufts  of  Spanish  moss;  constructed  of  twig- 
lets,  strips  of  bark,  and  leaf  stems,  fastened  with  moss 
nr  cobwebs,  and  lined  with  soft  vegetable  down.  K(;(..s : 
3  or  4,  dull  greenish  or  grayish-white,  spotting  of  brown 
and  lilac-gray  confined  to  large  end,  sometimes  forming 
wreaths. 

Distribution.— .Atlantic  coast  district  of  United 
States;  north  tn  lower  Maryland  and  eastern  shore  of 
Virginia,  casually  to  New  York  (Long  Island).  Con- 
necticut, and  Massachusetts;  breeding  southward  to 
Florida;  in  winter  to  southern  Florida.  P.ahamas.  Cnlia, 
Grand  Cayman.  Jamaica.  Haiti,  and  Porto  Kico.  and 
occasionally   north   to   South   Carolina. 


The  Yellow -thniatc-d  ami  .Sycamore  Warblers 
are  geographical  variations  of  tlie  s;inu-  species 
of  Warbler.  Both  are  yellow-throated.  Ijoth 
are  southern,  lioth  haunt  the  tops  of  large  e\er- 
greens,  and  both  ha\e  clear  ringing  songs.  From 
Virginia  south  to  Florida  the  bird  is  known  as 
the  Yellow-throated  Warbler.  From  (Jhio  and 
Missouri  south  to  the  Gulf  he  is  called  the  Syca- 
more Warbler  (  Dcndroica  domhiica  alhilora). 

He  is  not  a  very  common  bird  anywhere.  Ivtil 
the  clear  song  of  this  Dominican   ^'ellow-throat 


;is  It  rings  oiU  from  the  tops  of  the  tall  ])ines 
;ind  cypresses  of  the  lowlands  of  the  -South  At- 
lantic States  is  very  distinctive.  The  bird  draws 
;ittention  to  itself  by  this  song,  which  has  been 
written  chuui-chinii-chiiui,  chicker-cher-ivcc  and 
has  the  ringing  character  of  the  \\'ater-Thrush, 
:ind  the  clear  distant  note  of  the  Indigo  Bunt- 
ing. If  one  is  fortunate  enough  to  be  present 
when  the  bird  conies  down  into  the  lower  limbs 
i>f  the  forest  trees  he  will  see  his  most  attractive 
yellow  throat  and  see,  too,  how  deliberate  is  his 


YELLOW-THROATED  WARBLER  mat.  size) 

Courtesy  of  .\m.  Mus.  Nat.  Hist. 


140 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


manner.  There  is  nothing  of  the  excitable  dis- 
position that  is  called  "  Warbler-like."  When 
he  is  in  a  mood  to  sing,  back  he  goes  to  the  top 
of  a  cypress  and  pours  forth  his  song,  often  for 
some  minutes,  standing  quietly  on  one  limb  of 
the  tree. 


The  Sycamore  Warbler  of  the  south-central 
States  seems  to  give  his  preference  to  the  syca- 
more trees,  and  is  well  named  the  Sycamore 
Yellow-throat.  Neither  is  he  a  very  common 
bird,  but  his  song  and  beauty  are  the  character- 
istics that  attract  people  to  him. 


GRACE'S   WARBLER 

Dendroica  graci^  Ha  in! 

A     (1.    V.    Xumber   .,Im 


General  Description. —  Length.  5  inches.  Upper 
parts,  gray  streaked  with  black :  under  parts,  yellow 
and    white.      Bill,    shorter    than    head,    slender,    tapering 


Drawing  by  R.  I.  Brasher 

GRACE'S  WARBLER  (J  nat.  size) 
A  pretty  bird  with  graceful  r 


gradually  to  the  tip  ;  wings,  iong  and  pointed  ;  tail,  even 
or  nearly  even. 

Color. —  Adult  M.-^le  in  Spring  and  Summer; 
.Ibovc,  slatc-yray.  the  cron'ii  and  back,  streaked  ivith 
hlnck  (sides  of  crown,  sometimes  uniformly  black)  ; 
wings  and  tail,  dusky  with  slate-gray  edgings,  the 
middle  wing-coverts  broadly,  the  greater  coverts  more 
narrow'ly,  tipped  with  white,  forming  two  distinct  wing- 
lands ;  two  outermost  tail-feathers  with  inner  webs 
e.xtensively  white  at  the  end  (the  white  occupying 
more  than  the  end  half  on  outermost  feather,  which  also 
has  the  outer  web  largely  white),  the  third  feather 
also  usually  with  an  elongated  white  patch  at  the  end  or 
near  the  end ;  over  the  eye  a  stripe  of  yellow  passing 
into  white  beyond  eye;  a  broad  dusky  loral  streak  and 
a  narrow  dusky  streak  at  corner  of  mouth;  sides  of 
head  and  sides  of  neck,  plain  slate-gray;  spot  bclozv  eye. 
cheek,  chin,  throat,  and  cliest.  lenion-yellozn;  remaining 
under  parts,  white,  with  sides  of  chest  and  breast,  sides, 
and  flanks,  streaked  with  black;  bill,  black;  iris,  brown; 
legs  and  feet,  dusky-brown.  Adult  Female:  Similar 
to  the  adult  male  but  duller  in  color ;  gray  of  upper 
parts,  strongly  tinged  with  brown,  the  black  streaks  on 
back,  indistinct  (sometimes  obsolete)  ;  white  wing- 
bands,  narrower;  yellow  of  stripe  over  eye,  throat,  etc.. 
paler;  white  of  under  parts,  rather  duller,  and  blackish 
streaks  on  sides,  etc.,  less  distinct. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest:  High  in  pine  trees,  50  to 
60  feet  up;  composed  of  vegetable  fiber,  straws,  string, 
bud  scales,  and  insect  webs.  Eggs  :  3  or  4,  lightly 
spotted  with  reddish-brown. 

Distribution. — •  Southwestern  United  States  and 
adjacent  parts  of  northwestern  Alexico;  northward 
through  mountains  of  New  Mexico  and  Arizona  to 
southern  Colorado,  where  abundant  in  coniferous 
forests ;  winters  in  Mexico. 


Grace's  Warbler  was  discovered  in  1864  by 
the  great  naturalist.  Dr.  Elliott  Coues,  who  gave 
the  bird  his  sister's  name.  It  is  a  pretty  name 
and  was  a  pretty  compliment  of  a  kind  which 
ought  to  have  been  paid  oftener  by  American 
ornithologists  to  their  wonien  relatives  and 
friends  —  in  fact,  at  least  as  often  as  there  were 
pretty  names  available. 


Also  it  is  a  pity  that  Americans  see  so  little 
of  this  Warbler,  because  its  appearance  and  its 
ways  are  as  pretty  as  its  name.  But  these  are 
facts  which  are  appreciated  only  by  the  compara- 
tively few  persons  who  visit  or  live  in  the  south- 
western part  of  this  great  country,  especially 
the  regions  near  the  Mexican  boundary.  The 
bird   is,   indeed,   one   of    the   commonest   of   its 


WARBLERS 


14' 


family  in  .\rizona,  and  is  of  quik'  frt'tincnt  occur-  of  the  yellow  [liiie  trees,  much  after  the  manner 

rence  especially  in  the  neighborhood  of  that  niosc  of  other   Warblers.      It   is  also   fre(iuentlv   found 

wonderful  wonderland,  the  Grand  Canon  of  the  in  similar   forests  on  the  Guadalupe  Mountains 

Colorado.     Here  it  is  found  working  in  the  tops  of  Texas. 


BLACK-THROATED   GRAY    WARBLER 
Dendroica  nigrescens   ( ./    /\,    Towitsi-nd ) 


A-  n.  V.   Xn 

General  Description. —  Length,  5  inches.  Fore  parts, 
black ;  upiicr  jiarts,  gray  ;  under  parts,  white.  Bill, 
shorter  than  head,  slender,  tapering  gradually  to  the 
tip;  wings,  long  and  pointed;  tail.  even. 

Color. — Adult  M.>\le:  Ilcml,  uiiifonii  hlitck.  relieved 
by  a  broad  stripe  of  zcliite  over  ear  W.rteitdiui;  joricard 
to  above  middle  of  eye),  a  small  spot  of  yellow  in 
front  of  eye,  and  a  broad  cheek  stripe  of  white,  extend- 
ing from  lower  base  of  bill  to  sides  of  neck,  confluent 
on  chin;  whole  throat  and  chest,  uniform  black;  rest  of 
under  parts,  white  broadly  streaked  on  the  sides  with 
black ;  hindneck,  back,  shoulders,  rump,  and  upper  tail- 
coverts,  slate-gray  or  plumbeous,  streaked  (except  on 
hindneck,  and  sometimes  on  rump)  with  black;  wings 
and  tail,  black  or  dusky  with  gray  edgings,  the  middle 
and  greater  wing-coverts,  broadly  tipped  with  white, 
forming  two  conspicuous  wing-bands;  inner  webs  of 
two  outermost  tail-feathers  mostly  (sometimes  entirely) 
white,  the  third  feather  with  end  half  or  more,  white, 
the  fourth  also  with  white  on  terminal  portion ;  bill, 
black ;  iris,  brown  ;  legs  and  feet,  dusky-brown,  some- 
times    nearly     black.       Adult     Female:       Sometimes 


scarcely  different  from  the  adult  male,  having  the 
crown  and  whole  tliroat  uniform  black,  as  in  that  sex. 
liut  with  gray  of  upper  parts  duller;  usually,  however, 
with  the  crown  gray  (except  on  the  sides),  streaked 
with  black;  the  throat  mostly  white  with  a  black  or 
dusky  patch  on  each  side  of  lower  throat;  white  of 
under  parts,  less  pure,  with  streaks  on  sides  and  flanks 
narrower  and  grayish  dusky;  gray  of  upper  parts, 
duller,  with  dusky  streaks  on  back  and  upper  tail- 
coverts  much  narrower,  sometimes  nearly  obsolete. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest  :  Low  in  dense  thickets  of 
manzanita,  scrub  oak.  or  willows  or  high  among  the 
conifers;  compactly  constructed,  cup-shaped,  of  plant 
fibers,  grasses,  and  a  few  leaf  stems  and  lined  with 
feathers.  Eggs:  3  or  4.  pinkish-white  or  cream, 
spotted  around  larger  end  with  reddish-browns  and 
purple. 

Distribution. — Western  North  .America  ;  breeds  from 
southern  British  Columbia.  Nevada,  northern  Utah,  and 
northwestern  Colorado  south  to  northern  Lov^er  Cali- 
fornia, southern  Arizona,  and  northern  New  Mexico; 
winters   in   southern   Lower  California  and   in   Mexico. 


When  the  wise  men  gave  names  to  the  differ- 
ent birds,  the  Black-throated  Gray  Warbler  got 
its  name  from  the  male,  for  he  only  has  the 
black  throat.  His  wife  wears  a  white  cravat, 
and,  according  to  my  idea,  she  is  a  good  deal 
more  important  in  Warbler  affairs  than  he  is. 
This  impression  was  gained  by  watching  at  the 
nest  after  the  eggs  were  hatched  and  the  young 
birds  were  being  fed.  Mr.  Warbler  seemed  to 
be  away  from  home  practically  ;ill  the  time.  He 
evidently  thought  his  shyness  was  a  good  excuse 
to  stay  away  and  let  his  wife  take  the  burden  of 
hunting  food  for  the  young  birds. 

One  day  as  I  was  walking  along  Ftilton  Creek, 
I  saw  one  of  these  Warblers  fid.geting  on  a  limb 
with  a  straw  in  her  bill.  This  was  interesting, 
because  I  had  searched  this  locality  trving  to  find 
the  nest  for  some  time.  The  site  of  the  nest  was 
twelve  feet  from  the  ground  in  the  top  of  a 
sapling.  It  was  very  advantageously  located 
becatise  just  at  the  side  of  the  sapling  was  the 
sawed-off  trunk  of  a   fir  that   was  three  and   a 


half  feet  across.  Ujron  this  we  could  climb  and 
aim  our  camera  straight  into  the  nest. 

The  mother  returned  home  and  found  two 
men  with  a  big  one-eyed  monster,  the  cainera. 
close  to  her  children.  .She  was  scared  almost  out 
of  her  senses.  She  fell  fluttering  from  the  top 
of  the  tree.  .She  caught  quivering  on  a  limb  a 
foot  from  my  hand.  But  she  couldn't  hold  on  ; 
she  slipped  through  the  branches  and  clutched 
my  shoe.  I  never  saw  such  an  exaggerated  case 
of  chills  or  heard  such  a  pitiful  high-pitched  note 
of  pain.  I  stooped  to  see  what  ailed  her.  .She 
acted  as  if  both  wings  were  broken.  But  a 
moment  later,  she  limped  under  :i  bush  and  sud- 
denly got  well. 

The  first  day  T  met  the  male  Black-throated 
Gray  f.ace  to  face,  we  were  trying  to  get  a  photo- 
graph of  the  mother  as  she  came  to  feed.  She 
had  got  quite  used  to  the  camera.  We  Itad  it 
leveled  at  the  nest  only  a  yard  distant.  A  gray 
figure  came  flitting  over  the  tree-tops  and 
planted  himself  on  ;i  limb  right  beside  his  home. 


142 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


He  carried  a  green  cut-worm  in  his  mouth.  No 
sooner  had  he  squatted  on  his  accustomed  perch 
than  he  caught  sight  of  the  camera.  With  an 
astonished  chirp,  he  dropped  his  worm,  turned  a 
back  somersault  and  all  I  saw  was  a  streak  of 
gray  curving  up  over  the  pointed  firs. 

The  mother  foraged  the  firs  for  insects  of  all 
sizes  and  colors.  She  often  brought  in  green 
cut-worms  which  she  rolled  through  her  bill  as 


dinner  they  had  just  swallowed.  I  don't  believe 
the  mother  ever  saw  her  children  when  their 
mouths  were  not  open.  After  watching  about 
the  home  for  several  days  with  camera  and  note 
book,  I  discovered  that  the  mother  was  very 
impartial  to  her  children.  While  I  could  not 
tell  one  of  the  young  birds  from  the  other,  the 
mother  seemed  to  be  able  to  do  it,  for  she  fed 
them  in  turns  regardless  of  position. 


Photo  by  W.  L.  Pmlcy  and  H.  T.  Bohlman 

MOTHER  BLACK-THROATED  GRAY  WARBLER  FEEDING  CUT-WORMS  TO  YOUNG 


a  house-wife  runs  washing  through  a  wringer, 
either  to  kill  the  creature  or  to  be  sure  it  was 
soft  and  billsome.  This  looked  like  a  waste  of 
time  to  me.  The  digestive  organs  of  those  bob- 
tailed  bantlings  seemed  equal  to  almost  any  insect 
I  had  ever  seen. 

In  the  days  I  spent  about  the  nest,  I  never 
saw  the  time  when  both  the  young  birds  were  not 
in  a  starving  mood,  regardless  of  the  amount  of 


The  Black-throated  Gray  Warbler,  like  the 
others  of  its  kind,  is  restless,  flitting  from  tree  to 
tree  and  singing  at  times  almost  constantly.  Mrs. 
Florence  Merriani  Bailey  says,  "  Its  song  is  a 
simple  Warbler  lay,  Zee-ee-zee-ee,  ze,  zc,  zc,  with 
the  quiet  woodsy  quality  of  Virens  [Black- 
throated  Green  Warbler]  and  Ccerulcsccns 
I  Black-throated  Blue  Warbler],  so  soothing  to 
the  ear."  William  L.  Finley. 


BLACK-THROATED  GREEN  WARBLER 
Dendroica  virens  (GnicVni) 

\     (1.    U.    Xiimhcr   (.67        See    Color    Plate  97 

Other  Names. —  Green  Black-throated  Flycatcher; 
Evergreen  Warbler:  Green  Black-throat. 

General  Description. —  Length,  5  inches.  Upper 
parts,  olive;  under  parts,  yellow,  black,  and  white.     Bill, 


shorter   than   head,   slender,   tapering  gradually   to   the 
tip  ;  wings,  long  and  jiointed  ;  tail,  notched. 

Color. —  Adult      Mai.k  :       Crown,     hindneck,     back, 
shoulders,   and    rump,   plain   yellowish   olive-green,    the 


Courtesy  of  the  New  YorK  Stat.;  Museun- 


Plate  97 


BLACKBUHNIAN    WARBLER      /-I.  n./roiVvi /«.,-,-.I  (Mull.T) 

BLACK-THROATED  GREEN   WARBLER      Dmdr, 

REDSTART     Setophaiiii  Tutinlla  (Liiinac'iisi 

FEMALE 

MAGNOLIA  WARBLER      Dnulniica  mailnulm  (Wilson) 

AllT"t"''8izc-  rEKM^t 


WARBLERS 


143 


l)ack  sometimes  (more  rarely  the  crown  and  rnmp  also) 
narrowly  streaked  with  black,  and  the  forehead  some- 
times with  an  oval  center  spot  of  yellowish  ;  sides  of 
head  and  )icck.  includinii  zclioh-  check  rciiinn  and  a 
broad  strif<c  oz-cr  eye.  clear  Iciiwn-yelloti',  relieved  by  a 
streak  of  olive-green  behind  eye.  this  sometimes  involv- 
ing greater  part  of  the  side  of  head;  chin,  throat,  and 
chest  isonietunes  sides  of  breast  also),  uniform  black. 
the  tirst,  sometimes  partly  yellow;  rest  of  under  parts, 
white  or  yellowish  white,  the  breast  itsually  tinged 
(sometimes  strongly)  with  yellow;  sides  and  flanks, 
heavily  streaked  with  black,  these  streaks  usually  con- 
fluent forward  with  the  black  throat-patch  at  its  rear 
margin ;  wings  and  tail,  dusky  with  slate-gray  edgings, 
the  middle  and  greater  wing-coverts,  broadly  tijiped 
with  white  forming  two  conspicuous  bars  across  wing ; 
inner  webs  of  two  side  tail-feathers,  mostly  white, 
that  of  the  third  with  a  large  white  end  spot,  the  two 
outermost  with  outer  webs  extensively  white ;  bill, 
blackish ;  iris,  brown  ;  legs  and  feet,  dark  horn-brown. 
Adult  Fem.xle:  Siiuilar  to  the  adult  male,  but  chin 
and  throat,  usually  w'hitish  or  pale  yellowish,  the  black 


111  lower  throat  (if  present  there)  and  chest  brnken 
(scinietmies  almost  hidden)  by  wliitish  tips  to  the 
feathers;   sides   of   breast,   never  uniform   black. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Xest  :  Nearly  always  in  an  ever- 
green from  15  to  40  feet  up,  on  a  limb  some  distance 
from  the  trunk;  compactly  built  of  rootlets,  bark 
strips,  grasses,  wool,  and  feathers  and  line<l  with  hair 
and  vegetable  dmvn.  Kt.r.s:  Cuninionly  4.  creamy- 
white,  spotted  with  chestnut,  brown,  and  lilac-gray 
mixed    with    a    few    darker   spots. 

Distribution. —  Xorth  .\mcrica ;  north  to  Nova 
Scotia,  shores  and  islands  of  Gull  of  St.  Lawrence, 
Newfoundland,  southern  shores  of  Hudson  Bay, 
-Mberta,  etc.;  breeding  southward  to  mountains  of  Con- 
necticut, New  York,  and  Pennsylvania,  northeastern 
Illinois,  and  along  higher  .^Ueghenics  to  eastern  Ten- 
nessee, western  North  Carolina,  and  northwestern 
South  Carolina;  west  to  edge  of  the  Great  Plains;  in 
winter  south  to  West  Indies  and  through  eastern 
.Mexico  and  Central  America  (Guatemala  and  Costa 
Rica)  to  Panama;  occasional  in  West  Indies;  accidental 
in  .\rizona,  Greenland,  and  Helgoland. 


Just  as  tlie  I'llack-throated  lUue  loves  the 
laurel,  the  Black-throated  Green  is  a  devoted 
habitue  of  the  evergreen  groves  and  forests  — 
of  pine,  spruce,  hemlock.  Its  drowsv  song  is 
one  of  the  typical  sounds  of  the  |)ineries  in  tiie 
warm  days  of  summer,  not  only  in  the  .Xorth,  as 
with  the  Blackburnian,  but  well  down  into  the 
middle  States,  It  is  ajit  to  keep  well  uj)  in  the 
tall  trees,  and  is  more  readilv  heard  than  seen. 


liut  patient  watching  will  at  length  be  rewarded 
by  a  glimpse  of  the  deliberate  little  singer  flit- 
ting through  the  needle  foliage,  hanging  head 
downward,  to  investigate  an  insect,  or  hovering 
before  a  cluster.  Though  not  confined  to  ever- 
greens, it  is  seldom  seen,  except  in  migration,  at 
:uiy  great  distance  from  its  native  element. 

Since  it  is  quite  abundant  in  many  a  pinery,  it 
would  niit  appear  hard  to  find  its  nest.     But  this 


C'lurtesy  of  Am.  Mus.  Nat.  Hist. 
BLACK-THROATED  GREEN  WARBLER  (J  nat.  size) 
A  devoted  habitue  of  the  evergreen  groves  and  forests 


144 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


is  the  secret  of  the  pines  and  one  which  is  not 
easy  to  discover.  Usually  it  is  well  up  in  the 
thickness  of  the  needles,  out  on  some  branch, 
hard  indeed  to  see  from  the  ground.  Sometimes 
however,  it  is  in  thick  low  evergreen  growths, 
hut  even  there  it  is  not  much  easier  to  find.     As 


Photo  by  II.  K.  Job 
MALE  BLACK-THROATED  GREEN   WARBLER  AT  NEST 


a  hoy  this  nest  was  my  despair,  and  I  was  long 
in  finding  one,  in  the  crotch  of  a  white  pine, 
next  to  the  trunk,  some  twenty  feet  up. 

Though  a  retired  forest  dweller,  the  Black- 
throated  Green  is  rather  a  familiar  little  bird. 
A  nest  which  I  found,  in  a  recent  year,  gave  me 
wonderful  insight  into  its  pretty  ways.  It  was 
in  an  unusual  situation,  in  a  crotch  by  the  main 
trunk  of  one  of  five  chestnut  sprouts,  growing 
from  the  same  root,  only  eleven  feet  from  the 
ground.  As  I  looked  into  the  then  empty  new 
nest,  I  heard  a  faint  chirp,  and  there  were  the 
little  couple  right  at  my  elbow. 

Many  a  time  through  the  period  of  the  rearing 
of  that  family  did  I  climb  an  adjacent  sprout, 
and,  only  two  feet  from  the  nest,  watch  the 
feeding  of  the  birdlets  by  the  parents,  and  take 
photographs  of  them,  ^^'hen  thev  were  nearly 
grown,  I  held  them  in  my  hand,  and  the  hand- 
some male,  perching  on  my  finger  tips,  tucked 
grubs  into  their  widely  stretched  little  mouths. 
(  )ne  day  quite  a  party  came  with  me  to  enjoy 
this  sight.  A  young  lady,  skeptical  of  results, 
was  induced  to  hold  one  of  the  little  birds.  Sud- 
denly the  brilliant  male  alighted  on  her  thumb, 
to  feed  the  chick,  and  so  startled  her  that  she 
nearly  lost  her  balance.  Then  he  hopped  on  her 
hat  as  though  to  see  whether  he  would  make 
becoming  trimming  for  millinery  !  But  no  ;  these 
feathered  gems  were  made  only  for  nature's 
foliage,  to  add  the  final  touch  of  charm  and 
grace  to  an  already  wonderful  creation. 

Herbert  K.  Job. 


TOWNSEND'S   WARBLER 
Dendroica  townsendi   ( ./.  A'.  Tni^'iisciid) 

A     (1,    r,    XiimlK-r   M"i8 


General  Description. —  Lengtii,  5  inches.  Fore  parts, 
Mack;  upper  parts,  olive;  uiirler  parts,  yellow  anrl  white. 
P.ill,  shorter  than  head,  slender,  taperin.a:  Rradiially  to 
tlie  tip  ;  wings,  long  and  pointed  ;  tail,  even  or  nearly 
even. 

Color. —  .^iiui.T  M.M-E  IN  Spring  and  Summer: 
Crown,  hindneck.  head.  chin,  throat,  and  upper  chest, 
uniform  hlack ;  a  broad  stripe  over  eye,  broad  cheek 
stripe  (curving  upward  on  side  of  head,  and  joining 
rear  extremity  of  the  eye  stripe),  a  spot  below  eye, 
lozvcr  chest,  and  breast,  clear  Icmon-ycUow;  abdomen, 
flanks,  and  under  tail-coverts,  white ;  sides  and  flanks, 
heavily  streaked  with  black,  the  forward  streaks  join- 
ing the  black  throat-patch  at  rear;  under  tail-coverts 
with  a  center  streak  of  blackish ;  back,  shoulders,  rump. 


and  shorter  upper  tail-coverts,  yellowish  olive-green, 
each  feather  with  a  central,  wedge-shaped  spot  of  black, 
these  markings  concealed  on  rump  ;  longer  upper  tail- 
coverts,  black  centrally,  broadly  margined  with  slate- 
gray;  wings  and  tail,  blackish  with  light  gray  edgings, 
and  the  middle  a.nd  greater  wing-coverts,  broadly  tipped 
with  white,  forming  two  conspicuous  bars  across  wing; 
inner  webs  of  three  side  tail-feathers  extensively  white 
at  the  end,  this  occupying  the  end  half  or  more  of  the 
outermost  fea'her;  bill,  blackish;  iris,  brown;  legs  and 
feet,  dark  horn-brownish.  .^DULT  M.^le  in  .\utumn- 
.\ND  Winter:  Similar  to  the  spring  and  summer  plum- 
age, but  all  the  black  areas  much  broken  or  obscured ; 
that  of  crown  and  hindneck  by  broad  olive-green  mar- 
gins to  the  feathers,  the  black  forming  central  streaks, 


WARBLERS 


145 


that  of  the  side  of  head  overlaid  by  olive-green  tips  to 
the  feathers,  and  that  of  the  throat  replaced  by  nearly 
iniiform  lemon-yellow,  with  black  appearing  as  spots 
or  blotches  on  sides  of  chest;  black  streaks  of  back, 
etc.,  concealed.  Anui.T  Fem.vle:  Very  similar  in 
coloration  to  the  autumn  and  winter  adult  male,  but 
black  streaks  on  upper  parts  much  narrower  ( sometimes 
nearly  obsolete,  usually  mere  shaft-lines),  the  streaks 
on  sides  also  usually  narrower,  sometimes  indistinct ; 
crown,  sometimes  blackish,  and  throat  often  blotched 
with  black,  occasionally  extensively  so. 

Nest  and   Eggs. —  Nest  :     Usually  in   willows  about 


4  feet  from  ground ;  constructed  of  decayed  plant 
fibers,  leaves,  and  roots  and  lined  with  rootlets,  hair, 
and  plant  down.  Eggs  :  3  or  4,  spotted  mainly  around 
larger  end   with   brown,   lavender,  and  burnt-umber. 

Distribution. —  Western  North  America ;  breeding 
from  mountains  of  southern  California  to  Alaska,  east- 
ward to  eastern  Oregon,  northwestern  Idaho,  etc. ; 
during  migration  eastward  to  Rocky  Mountains,  west- 
ern Texas  and  southward  over  western  and  central 
Mexico  to  highlands  of  Guatemala,  'I'res  Marias  Islands, 
and  extremity  of  Lower  California;  occasionally  east- 
ward to   South  Carolina. 


Tile  Townsend  \\  arbler  is  perhaps  our  most 
bcautifitl  Warbler  of  the  West.  1\)  nic,  its 
beauty  is  increased  by  its  shyness.  (  )ne  does 
not  get  a  good  chance  to  study  this  restless  bird, 
because,  W'arbler-Hke,  it  is  always  moving,  espe- 
cially among  the  firs  and  hemlocks  which,  because 
of  their  height  and  density,  are  not  at  all  favor- 
able for  bird  study. 

I  have  never  found  the  Townsend  Warbler 
nesting,  but  I  see  it  occasionally  through  Oregon 
and  California  during  the  winter  season  when  it 
is  always  on  the  travel.  During  the  season  of 
migration,  one  may  often  see  this  bird  traveling 
with  a  flock  of  Auduhon  W'arlilers. 

Mr.  William  L.  Dawson  characterizes  the 
song  and  the  hunting  actions  of  the  Townsend 
Warbler   as    follows :      "  The    song   ran,   dzivce, 


d~i\.'cc.  dci<'cc,  dzzvcc,  dz'occtscc.  the  first  four 
notes  drowsy  and  drawling,  the  fourth  prolonged, 
;md  the  remainder  somewhat  furry  and  squeaky. 
The  bird  hunted  patiently  through  the  long 
needles  of  the  pine,  under  what  would  seem  to 
rui  observer  great  difficulties.  Once  he  espied 
an  especially  desirable  tidbit  on  the  under  side 
(if  ;i  needle-beset  branch.  The  bird  leaned  over 
.ind  peered  beneath,  until  he  quite  lost  his  balance 
and  turned  a  somersault  in  the  air.  But  he  re- 
turned to  the  charge  again  and  again,  now 
creeping  cautiously  around  to  the  under  si.de, 
now  clinging  to  the  pine  needles  themselves,  and 
again  fluttering  bravelv  in  the  midst,  tintil  he 
succeeded  in  exhausting  the  little  pocket  of  prov- 
ender, whatever  it  was." 

William  L.  Finlev, 


Drawing  by  R.  I.  Brasher 


TOWNSEND'S  WARBLER  (J  nat.  size) 
The  "  most  beautiful  warbler  of  tlie  West."  -Finley 


146 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


HERMIT  WARBLER 
Dendroica  occidentalis   (/.   K.  To-a'iiscnJ) 

A.    ().   II.    Number  069 


General  Description. —  Length,  5  inches.  Head, 
yellow  and  black ;  upper  parts,  gray  streaked  with 
black;  under  parts,  white.  Bill,  shorter  than  head, 
slender,  tapering  gradually  to  the  tip  ;  wings,  long  and 
pointed ;  tail,  even  or  nearly  even. 

Color. —  Adult  Male:  Forehead,  crown,  and  xvholc 
side  of  head,  dozvn  to  and  including  cheeks  and  sides 
of  neck,  clear  lemon-yeUotv.  the  crown  usually  spotted 
or  flecked  with  black;  back  of  head,  black;  hindneck 
streaked  with  black  and  grayish  olive-green,  in  varying 
relative  proportions  (sometimes  nearly  uniform  black)  ; 
back,  shoulders,  rump,  and  upper  tail-coverts,  gray, 
usually  tinged  with  olive-green,  broadly  streaked  with 
black  (the  black  streaks  narrower,  sometimes  obsolete, 
on  rump)  ;  wings  and  tail,  black  with  light  gray  edg- 
ings, the  middle  and  greater  wing-coverts  broadly 
tipped  with  white,  forming  two  distinct  bars  across 
wing;  inner  webs  of  two  outermost  tail-feathers  exten- 
sively white,  this  occupying  most  of  the  web  on  the 
first  and  about  the  end  half  on  the  second,  the  third 
feather  usually  with  a  white  longitudinal  spot  or  streak 
near  tip,  and  the  first  witli  outer  web  largely  white ; 
chin,  throat,  and  upper  chest,  uniform  black,  this  black 
area  with  a  convex  outline  at  the  rear;  rest  of  under 
parts,    white,   usually    faintly    shaded    toward    the    sides 


with  gray  and  sometimes  narrowly  and  indistinctly 
streaked  on  sides  with  dusky ;  bill,  blackish ;  iris, 
brown ;  legs  and  feet,  dark  horn-brown,  sometimes 
blackish.  Adult  Female:  Similar  to  the  male,  but 
darker  gray  above  and  forehead  and  crown  largely 
(often  mostly)  yellow;  throat,  whitish  spotted  with 
dusky ;  and  dusky  streaks  on  back,  etc.,  still  narrower, 
often  obsolete;  under  parts,  also  similar,  but  body  por- 
tions less  tinged  with  brownish,  the  chest  often  with  a 
dusky  patch  (its  feathers  tipped  with  whitish)  extend- 
ing more  or  less  over  throat,  sometimes  covering  whole 
throat. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest:  In  coniferous  trees  from 
25  to  40  feet  up,  constructed  of  weed  stems,  fibrous 
stalks  of  plants,  pine  needles,  and  small  twigs,  bound 
by  cobwebs,  and  lined  with  soft  fine  strips  of  bark 
and  hair.  Eggs  :  3  or  4,  dull  white  or  grayish-white, 
spotted  and  blotched  chiefly  around  larger  end  with 
browns  and  lilac-gray. 

Distribution. —  Pacific  coast  district  of  United 
States  ;  breeding  on  higher  mountains  of  California,  and 
northward  to  British  Columbia  (chiefly  west  of  the 
Cascade  range)  ;  in  winter  south  into  Lower  California 
and  through  Arizona,  over  Mexican  plateau  to  high- 
lands of  Guatemala. 


The  yellow  head,  black  throat,  and  white  breast 
and  belly  of  the  Hermit  Warbler  are  so  char- 
acteristic that  it  can  hardly  be  confused  with  any 
other  bird  within  its  range ;  and  it  has  a  Chicka- 
dee-like trick  of  hanging  upside  down  to  the  end 
of  twigs  which  is  also  distinctive.  It  is  essen- 
tially a  bird  of  the  great  forests  of  conifers, 
where  it  is  found  much  more  frequently  than  in 
anv  other  surroundings.  Its  pltmiage  markings 
make  it  one  of  the  most  conspicuous  of  the 
small  birds  of  the  great  Sierra  Nevada  forests. 
Its   characteristic   song,   which   a   western   orni- 


thologist (Barlow)  transliterates  tsit.  tsit.  tsit, 
tsit,  chec,  dice,  chee.  the  last  three  syllables 
uttered  more  rapidly  than  the  first  four,  though 
not  strong,  is  penetrating  and  has  considerable 
carrying  power. 

Mr.  Finley  says:  "My  experience  with  the 
Hermit  Warbler  is  that  it  is  shy  and  retiring  and 
therefore  has  a  good  name.  It  is  not  very  com- 
mon through  western  Oregon.  The  only  nest  I 
have  found  of  the  bird  was  in  an  oak  tree.  In 
western  Oregon,  it  lives  more  in  the  firs  and 
oaks." 


KIRTLAND'S  WARBLER 

Dendroica  kirtlandi    {Baird) 


.\     (),    f.    .\umbc 


Other  Names. —  Jack-pine  Warbler;  Jack-pine  Bird. 

General  Description. —  Length,  5^  inches.  Upper 
parts,  gray ;  under  parts,  yellow.  Bill,  shorter  than 
head,  slender,  tapering  gradually  to  the  tip  ;  wings,  long 
and  pointed ;  tail,  notched. 

Color. —  Adult   Male:      Crown,    hindneck,    sides    of 


neck,  and  head,  bluish  slate-gray,  the  first  usually 
streaked  with  black;  front  of  forehead,  lores,  and 
space  between  lower  eyelid  and  cheeks,  black,  gradually 
blending  behind  into  the  gray  of  the  sides  of  head;  a 
li'liite  crescentic  spot  or  bar  on  lower  eyelid,  and  a 
smaller,  narrower  mark  of  white  on  upper  eyelid;  back 


WARBLERS 


^M 


and  shoulders,  brownish-gray,  broadly  streakeil  wilh 
black  ;  rump  and  upper  tail-coverts,  slate-gray,  narrowly 
(sometimes  obsoletely)  streaked  with  black;  wings  ami 
tail,  dusky  with  pale  brownish-gray  or  grayish-brown 
edgings,  the  middle  and  greater  wing-coverts  margined 
near  the  tips  with  paler  brownish-gray  or  grayish- 
brown,  sometimes  approaching  dull  white;  inner  webs  of 
two  outermost  tail-feathers  with  a  terminal  white  spot, 
this  about  three-fourths  of  an  inch  long  on  the  lateral 
feathers;  clieeks,  chin,  throat,  and  rest  of  under  parts, 
pale  lemon-yellow,  fading  into  white  on  under  tail- 
coverts;  sides  and  flanks,  grayish  streaked  with  dusky, 
the  pronounced  gray  area  on  each  side  of  breast  sepa- 
rated from  the  yellozf  of  the  centra}  portion  by  a  series 
of  broad  black  streaks:  chest,  usually  with  a  few  small 
flecks  of  dusky,  sometimes  immaculate  yellow;  bill, 
blackish  ;  iris,  brown  ;  legs  and  feet,  dark  horn-brown- 
ish. Adult  Femali;:  Similar  to  the  adult  male,  but 
duller  in  color  ;  tlie  Iiluisli  slate-gray  of  crown,  hind- 
neck,  and  rump  replaced  with  brownish-gray ;  black 
streaks  of  back  and  shoulders  rather  narrower;  yellow 
of  under  parts  averaging  slightly  paler,  and  chest  more 
frequently  as  well  as  more  extensively  speckled  or 
flecked  with  duskv. 


Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest;  To  Mr.  Norman  A.  Wood 
belongs  the  honor  of  discovering  the  nest  and  eggs  of 
this  species,  in  Michigan.  We  (juote  from  his  article 
in  the  Bulletin  of  the  Michigan  Ornithological  Club, 
»\Iarch,  1904.  "  The  nest  was  built  in  a  depression  in 
the  ground,  at  the  foot  of  a  jack-pine  about  five  feet 
tall,  and  was  only  five  feet  from  the  road.  It  was 
partly  covered  with  low  blueberries  and  sweet  fern 
plants.  The  nest  is  two  inches  inside  diameter  and  the 
same  in  depth,  very  neat  and  compact,  and  is  composed 
of  strips  of  soft  bark  and  some  vegetable  fiber,  thickly 
lined  with  fine  dead  grass  and  pine  needles.  A  few 
hairs  from  horses'  manes  or  tails  complete  the  lining. 
Kggs  ;  A  delicate  pinkish-white  thinly  sprinkled  with 
several  sliades  of  brown  spots  forming  a  sort  of  wreath 
at  the  larger  end." 

Distribution. —  Eastern  United  States  and  more 
southern  British  provinces,  chiefly  west  of  the  AUe- 
ghenies ;  very  irregularly  distributed ;  breeds  in  Oscoda, 
Crawford,  and  Roscommon  counties,  Michigan ;  in 
migration  recorded  from  Minnesota,  Wisconsin, 
Ontario,  Ohio,  Illinois,  Indiana,  Missouri,  Virginia, 
South  Carolina,  Georgia,  and  Florida;  winters  in  the 
I'.ahamas. 


Kirtland's  Warbler  was  discovered  by  Dr.  J. 
P.  Kirtland  near  Cleveland,  Obio.  May  13.  1S31. 
He  captured  a  male  bird  whicb  was  scientifi- 
cally examined,  and  credited  by  both  Latin  and 
common  names  to  tbe  discoverer.  Just  as  Colum- 
bus did  not  discover  America,  so  it  was  found, 
years  after  Dr.  Kirtland's  discovery,  that  as  far 
back  as  October,  1841,  Dr.  Samuel  Cabot  of 
Boston  captured  a  male  on  shipboard  near  the 
Bahamas.  By  1879  there  were  but  nine  known 
specimens  of  this  bird.  To  this  day  it  is  the 
rarest  of  North  American  Warblers.  Its  winter 
home  has  liecn  found  in  the  Bahamas  ai:d  there 
only,  and  its  breedinc^  home  in  Michigan.  In 
1903  Norman  A.  \^'ood  located  its  nesting  dis- 
trict in  a  comparatively  small  area  iiT  the  upland 
between  Lakes  Michigan  and  Huron,  and  be- 
tween fifty  and  a  hundred  and  fifty  miles  south 
of  Mackinaw.  No  other  breeding  ground  is 
known.  No  winter  home  has  been  found  exccj)t 
the  Bahamas.  Between  these  two  localities  a 
few  stray  migrating  Kirtland's  Warblers  have 
been  seen.  The  records,  few  as  thev  are.  show 
that  the  birds  are  widely  scattered  during  the 
northward  migration. 

In  the  museum  the  bird  looks  not  unlike  a 
Magnolia  Warbler,  but  with  a  plainer  tail  and  no 


spots  across  the  yellow  breast.  In  action  it  much 
resembles  the  I'alm  Warbler,  particularly  in  a 
wagging  motion  iif  the  tail.  It  has  a  very  stilif 
;iiul  erect   :ittitude  in   singing. 

Norman  .\.  Wood  and  J.  A.  Parmelee  made 
thorough  studies  of  the  bird  in  Michigan  not  far 
from  -Mr.  I'armelee's  luinu-.  What  they  have 
to  sav  is  verv  nearl\-  all  th.it  is  known  of  the 
breeding  habits  of  the  bird.  The  bird  is  a 
frequenter  of  high,  sandy  jack-pine  [ilains  ;  makes 
its  home  in  jack-pine  and  scrub  oak:  nests  on 
the  groun<l :  walks  gracefulh'  over  its  feeding 
grounds,  and  is  equally  at  lionic  in  trees  or  on 
the  ground.  It  is  callefl  by  the  natives  J;ick- 
pinc  Bird.  The  sung  has  an  (  )riole  cpialitv  and 
sings  verv  forciblv  cliip-chip-clir.  dire,  chcr-r-r-r. 
From  sdft  and  short,  the  song  changes  to  a  clear 
quick  whistle  on  tlie  r.  Other  songs  have  been 
noted   with  variations. 

This  bird  is  so  rare  that  the  report  of  an  obser- 
\-:Uion  of  it  would  be  apt  to  be  doubted  bv  the 
ornithologists,  crediting  the  observation  rather 
to  some  more  common  bird.  But  no  one  knows 
how  many  times  the  searchers  for  Warblers  in 
May  have  hoped  and  searched  with  enthusiasm 
to  see  this  not  imjiossible  find. 

L.  Nelson  NiniOLS, 


148 


BIRDS   OF    AMERICA 


PINE  WARBLER 
Dendroica  vigors!   {Audubon) 

A     (I.    l\    Number   1,71        Sec   t  olor    I'late   95 


Other  Names. — Pine-creeping  Warbler  ;  Pine  Creeper. 

General  Description. —  Length,  s-}4  inches.  Upper 
parts,  ohve-green ;  under  parts,  yellow  streaked  with 
olive.  Bill,  shorter  than  head,  slender,  tapering  gradu- 
ally to  the  tip  ;  wings,  long  and  pointed ;  tail,  notched. 

Color. —  Adult  Male:  .Ihovc,  t^lain  bright  olivc- 
i/rccn.  usually  becoming  more  grayish  on  shoulders; 
wings  and  tail,  dusky  with  dull  gray  edgings,  the 
middle  and  greater  wing-coverts  broadly  tipped  with 
dull  white  or  pale  gray,  producing  two  distinct  bands  ; 
inner  webs  of  two  outermost  tail-feathers,  cxtcnsiveiy 
white  at  the  end,  the  ivhite  on  lateral  feather  occuf>yin;i 
nearly  the  end  half,  the  outer  web  also  edged  with 
white;  sides  of  head  and  neck,  olive-.green,  the  former 
relieved  by  a  narrow,  usually  indistinct,  streak  over 
eye  and  a  crescentic  spot  of  yellow  below  eye.  the  lores, 
usually  darker  olive-green,  often  becoming  dusky  in 
front  of  eye;  cheek,  chin,  throat,  chest,  and  breast  — 
usually  upper  portion  of  abdomen  also  —  yellow,  the 
sides  of  chest  and  breast  usually  streaked  with  olive- 
greenish,  sometimes  distinctly  streaked  with  dusky ; 
rear  under  parts,  dull  whitish,  the  under  tail-coverts, 
gray  basally  ;  bill,  brownish-black  ;  iris,  brown  ;  legs  and 
feet,  dusky-brown.  Adult  Female:  Smaller  and  much 
duller  in  color  than  the  male ;  above,  plain  olive  or  dull 


olive-greenish,  inclinin.g  to  gray  on  hindneck  and 
shoulders,  sometimes  almost  wholly  dull  gray ;  beneath, 
pale  olive-yellowish  in  front  and  dull  whitish  behind, 
sometimes  wholly  dull  grayish-white,  faintly  tinged  with 
yellow  on  chest,  the  sides  and  flanks  more  strongly 
tinged  with  olive  or  grayish,  and  sometimes  obsoletely 
streaked  with  darker,  especially  on  sides  of  chest ; 
wings  and   tail,   as   in   the   male. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest  :  Always  placed  on  hori- 
zontal limb  of  pine  or  cedar,  from  6  to  80  feet  up,  firmly 
attached  and  built  of  strips  of  grapevine  bark,  rootlets, 
leaf  stems,  and  caterpillar  silk,  lined  warmly  with  deer 
or  other  animal  hair,  this  forming  a  thick  ring  around 
the  rim.  EuGS  :  Commonly  4,  varying  from  dull  white 
to  pale  grayish-lilac,  marked  with  specks  and  spots  of 
brown,  umber,  and  lilac,  usually  forming  a  wreath 
around  larger  end. 

Distribution. —  Eastern  United  States  and  more 
southern  British  Provinces,  north  to  Minnesota,  Mani- 
toba (to  Lake  Winnipeg),  Ontario,  New  York,  south- 
ern Maine,  and  New  Brunswick;  breeding  southward 
to  southern  Florida  and  Gulf  States,  wintering  in 
Southern  States  (Florida  to  Texas)  and  northward  to 
coast  district  of  Virginia,  southern  Illinois,  etc.,  occa- 
sionally to  Massachusetts  ;  occasional  in  Bermudas. 


Drawing  by  R.  I.  Brasher 

PINE  WARBLER  (J  nat.  size) 
An  inconspicuous  Warbler,  singing  its  sweet  song  from  the  hig 


■  parts  of  the  pine  trees 


WARBLERS 


149 


The  Pine  Warbler  is  a  well-named  bird,  be- 
cause its  nesting  sites  are  always  in  pine  trees. 
In  migration  the  bird  may  be  fduntl  in  Warbler 
flocks  in  any  kind  of  tree  growth,  but  looking 
verv  ])lain  and  drab  for  the  bright  company  in 
which  it  finds  itself.  Wherever  there  are  pines  in 
the  States  east  of  the  plains  and  in  southern 
Canada,  there  the  Pine  Warblers  may  be  found 
nesting  in  the  spring.  They  are  common  in  the 
jiine  barrens  all  the  way  from  Florida  to  Xew 
Jersey  and  Illinois.  North  of  that  they  are  rare 
and  local.  In  the  winter  they  retreat  to  the 
southern  part  of  the  breeding  range  and  enter 
the  strag,gling  winter  flocks. 

Dr.  Elliott  Cones  savs  that  in  the  winter  in 
Florida  "the  bird  is  of  a  sociable  if  not  gre- 
garious nature,  usually  .going  in  straggling  com- 
panies of  its  own  kind,  and  often  mixing  with 
Titmice,  Kinglets,  and  Nuthatches,  the  whole 
throng  gailv  and  amicably  flitting  through  the 
shadv  woods,  scrambling  incessantly  on  and  all 
around  the  branches  of  the  trees  in  eager,  rest- 
less quest  of  their  minute  insect  food." 

In  the  winter  he  begins  to  sing  his  monotonous 


sweet  trill  and  is  very  persistent  at  his  single 
tune  until  the  breeding  season  is  over.  Then 
he  becomes  again  the  creeper  over  pitch  and  red 
pines  that  gave  bini  the  earlier  name  of  Pine 
Creeper. 


CSV  nf  Nat. 
YOUNG  PINE  WARBLER 


PALM   WARBLER 
Dendroica  palmarum  palmarum   (  Ciiiclin) 

A     (1.    \\    .\unil)er   d;-'       See   Color    I'latc   93 


-  Yellow    Red-poll  :    >'eno\v    Red-poi: 
Warbler;    Tip-up   Warbler:   Yellow 


Other    Names.- 

Warbler  :    Wa.gtai: 
Tip-up. 

General  Description. —  Length.  5  inches.  Upper 
parts,  grayish-olive;  under  parts,  yellow  and  whitish: 
crown  and  streaks  on  under  parts,  chestnut.  Bill, 
shorter  than  head,  slender,  tapering  gradually  to  the 
tip  ;  wings,  long  and  pointed  ;  tail,  notched. 

Color. —  Adults  (sexes  alike)  in  Spring  .-vni)  Sum- 
mer; Forehead  and  erozvii.  uniform  brhiht  chestnut. 
the  former  sometimes  blackish  in  front  where  divided 
by  a  short  and  narrow  center  line  of  whitish  or  pale 
yellowish  ;  rest  of  upper  parts,  grayish-olive  narrowly 
and  indistinctly  streaked  with  darker,  especially  on  back 
and  shoulders  ;  lower  rump  and  upper  tail-coverts,  light 
yellowish-olive  or  olive-greenish,  the  larger  coverts 
more  brownish,  with  indistinct  streaks  of  darker;  wings 
and  tail,  dusky  with  light  grayish-brown  edgings,  these 
most  distinct  on  the  end  portion  of  middle  and  greater 
wing-coverts;  inner  web  of  two  outermost  tail-feathers 
with  a  large  spot  of  white,  the  third  sometimes  with 
a  small  spot  of  the  same;  over  eye,  a  narrow  stripe  of 
pale  yellow:  a  triangular  spot  of  dusky  in  front  of  eye. 
and  a  similar  but  smaller  spot  behind  the  eye;  sides  of 
head,  grayish-brown,  sometimes  finely  streaked  in  front 
with  dull  brownish-white;  an  indistinct  space  below  eye 
of  dull  brownish-white;  cheeks,  dull  whitish,  some- 
times tinged  with  yellow;  chin,  throat,  chest,  and  under 


tail-coverts,  canary-yellow,  the  intervenin.g  under  parts 
(breast  and  abdomen),  dull  whitish,  usually  tinged  with 
yellow;  chest  (at  least  on  the  sides),  streaked  with 
brown  or  chestnut,  the  sides  and  flanks  less  distinctly 
streaked:  sometimes  a  scries  of  brown  or  chestnut 
streaks  along  each  side  of  throat:  bill,  brownish-black; 
iris,  brown;  legs  and  feet,  dusky-brown.  Adults  in 
Winter:  Forehead  and  crown,  grayish-brown,  streaked 
with  dusky,  sometimes  with  a  slight  admixture  of  chest- 
nut, mostly  concealed;  the  strip  over  the  eye.  chin, 
throat,  and  chest,  dull  white  instead  of  yellow  ;  other- 
wise like  the  spring  and  summer  plumage,  but  back, 
etc.,  browner,  and  with  darker  streaks  less  distinct 
(sometimes  obsolete). 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest  :  On  the  ground  and  usually 
well  concealed  under  a  tuft  of  grass  or  other  ve.geta- 
tion  ;  compactly  constructed  of  fine  dry  grasses,  strips 
of  bark,  and  moss.  Eggs  :  4.  creamy  wdnite.  spotted 
and  blotched  with  reddish-brown,  purple,  and  lavender, 
more  heavily  around  large  end. 

Distribution. —  Eastern  North  America,  chiefly  west 
of  the  Alle.ghenies  :  breeding  in  the  interior  of  British 
Atnerica  (Keewatin  south  to  northern  Minnesota)  ;  in 
winter  southern  Florida,  Bahamas,  Greater  Antilles, 
Cozumel  Island,  Yucatan,  and  .Swan  Island,  and  island 
of  Old  Providence,  Caribbean  .Sea:  occasional,  during 
migration,  in  Atlantic  States  and  at  eastern  base  of 
Rockv  Mountains. 


150 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


The  I'alni  Warbler  is  the  ever-tilting  Warbler 
that  comes  into  the  Northern  States  in  April 
generally  a  little  ahead  of  the  main  Warbler 
flock  and  greets  us  from  the  small  bushes  near 
water.  This  tilting  or  waving  of  the  tail  up  and 
down  is  the  one  characteristic  that  attracts  the 
casual  observer  to  the  bird  and  it  has  given  the 
names  Tip-up  Warbler  and  Yellow  Tip-up  to 
the  bird. 

The  Palm  \\'arbler  nests  in  the  very  northern 
part  of  Minnesota  and  farther  north  to  the  Great 
Slave  Lake  and  west  of  Hudson  Bay.  The 
Yellow  Palm  ( Dcndroica  palmaniui  Jiypochry- 
sca)  breeds  in  northern  Maine  and  eastern 
Canada. 

In  the  fall  the  Palm  comes  down  into  the 
Mississippi  valley,  spreading  out  over  a  large 
area ;  a  few  even  appear  along  the  Atlantic  coast 
from  southern  New  England  all  the  way  to 
Florida,  where  they  focus  into  the  narrow  penin- 
sula. The  Yellow  Palm,  on  the  other  hand, 
comes  down  through  the  Atlantic  coast  States 
in    the    fall    and    meets    the    Palm    in    Florida. 


Then  through  the  winter,  both  varieties  frat- 
ernize in  the  Florida  palms  and  pine  fields  and 
fences,  gardens  and  streets,  and  are  among  the 
commonest  of  the  winter  birds  of  the  peninsula. 
The  Palm  Warbler  far  outnumbers  the  Yellow 
Palm  in  Florida.  Not  only  this,  but  the  Palms 
overtlow  into  the  \\  est  Indies  where  the  Yellow 
I'alm  is  not  found. 

The  line  (jver  the  e_\e  is  always  yellow  in  the 
Yellow  Palm ;  in  the  Palm  it  is  yellow  in  the 
spring  but  white  in  the  fall.  The  stronger  yel- 
lowish underparts  of  the  Yellow  Palm  are  a  dis- 
tinctive mark  at  any  sea.son.  Even  in  the  spring, 
when  they  come  tilting  back  north  and  separate 
in  Georgia  for  their  two  routes,  it  is  not  safe  to 
guess  that  all  eastern  individuals  are  Yellow 
Palms  and  all  central  individuals  Palm  Warblers ; 
thev  have  been  known  to  go  astray.  The  tsec, 
tscc  trill  is  common  to  both.  The  love  of  the 
water  courses  and  the  eternal  tilting  are  the 
same.  Only  the  yellow  and  lack  of  yellow  are 
distinctive  marks  for  the  casual  observer. 

L.  Nelson  Nichols. 


PRAIRIE   WARBLER 

Dendroica  discolor   (I'iciUot) 

\     ().    U-    Number    67J     Sec    Color    Plat. 


General  Descriprion. —  Length,  4>4  inches.  Upper 
parts,  olive-green  ;  under  parts,  yellow  with  black 
streaks.  Bill,  shorter  than  head,  slender,  tapering 
gradually  to  the  tip ;  wings,  long  and  pointed ;  tail, 
notched. 

Color. — Adult  M.\le:  Above,  yellowish  olive-green, 
brightest  on  crown  and  hindneck,  slightly  intermi.xed 
with  grayish  on  upper  tail-coverts ;  back-fcathcrs, 
chestnut  centrally,  margined  or  edged  with  olive-green; 
wings  and  tail,  dusky  with  pale  grayish-olive  edgings, 
the  middle  wing-coverts  broadly  tipped  with  pale  yellow, 
the  outer  webs  of  greater  coverts  sometimes  yellowish 
at  the  ends;  inner  webs  of  three  outermost  tail-feathers, 
extensively  white  at  the  ends,  this  occupying  appro.xi- 
mately  one-half  the  web  on  side  feathers,  successively 
smaller  on  the  next  two  ;  stripe  over  eye,  large  cres- 
centic  spot  below  eye,  cheeks,  and  under  parts,  clear 
lemon-yellow,  paler  behind  (under  tail-coverts,  prim- 
rose-yellow) ;  a  lora!  streak  and  a  short  streak  behind 
eye,  a  broad  curved  streak  or  crescentic  patch  imme- 
diately beneath  the  yellow  spot  below  eye,  and  a  series 
of  broad  streaks  beginning  on  sides  of  lower  throat  and 
continued  along  sides  to  flanks,  black  ;  bill,  dark  brown  ; 
iris,     brown ;     legs     and     feet,     dusky-brown.       Adult 


tJS 

Fe.m.\le:  Similar  to  the  male  and  sometimes  hardly 
distinguishable,  but  usually  much  duller  in  color,  with 
the  chestnut  spots  on  back  indistinct  (often  obsolete)  ; 
the  black  markings  on  sides  of  head  replaced  by  dull 
grayish,  and  the  black  streaks  along  sides  less  distinct, 
especially  on  flanks,  where  grayish,  or  obsolete;  olive- 
green  of  upper  parts  sometimes  partly  replaced  by 
grayish,  and  yellow  of  lower  parts  by  dull  whitish. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest  :  Usually  placed  in  hickory, 
dogwood,  or  maple  saplings,  barberry,  viburnum  or  low 
bushes,  sometiines  in  scrub  pines  or  cedars,  on  dry 
hillsides  and  cut-over  areas ;  firmly  woven  of  weed 
stems,  dry  grasses,  vegetable  fibers  and  stems,  and  lined 
with  horse-hair.  Eggs  :  Usually  4.  white  or  greenish- 
white,  spotted  and  blotched  with  burnt-umber,  chestnut, 
purplish,  and  lilac -gray. 

Distribution. —  Eastern  United  States,  breeding 
north  to  Massachusetts,  southern  Ontario,  southern 
Michigan,  southern  Wisconsin  (?),  etc..  south  to 
Florida,  and  probably  to  the  Gulf  States  in  general ; 
occurring  irregularly  north  to  northern  Michigan;  west 
to  edge  of  the  Great  Plains,  in  eastern  Nebraska,  east- 
ern Kansas,  etc. ;  winters  from  central  Florida  through 
the  Bahamas  and  the  West  Indies. 


The  Prairie  Warbler  is  not  very  common  on 
the  prairies.  It  is  rather  a  bird  of  the  southern 
shrubs  and  short  trees.  In  most  favorable  locali- 
ties from  Georgia  to  Virginia  this  Warbler  nests 


commonly.  Northwest,  north  and  northeast  of 
Virginia  it  breeds  sparingly  and  locally.  Some 
old  fields  and  bush  lots  of  southern  New  Eng- 
land, especially  if  there  are  barberry  and  juniper. 


WARBLERS 


151 


may  attract  the  I'rairic  Warblers.  In  very 
scattered  numbers  they  may  be  fonnd  from  New 
Jersey  and  New  York  to  Kansas  and  Nebraska, 
but  only  in  the  bushes  and  not  on  the  prairie 
grasslands.  They  are  distinctly  birds  of  the 
hillsides.  Their  chestnut  niarkins^s  on  the  back 
are  excellent  distinguishing  characteristics.  P.et- 
ter  yet  is  the  peculiar  song  consisting  of  a  thin 
wiry,  lisping  trill  that  can  be  confused  with  the 
song  of  no  other  bird.  Dr.  Elliott  Cones  in 
Birds  of  the  Nortliivcst  gave  an  interesting  ac- 
count of  his  bird  trips  near  \\'ashington  in  his 
college  days.  The  Prairie  \\'arbler  was  one  of 
his    earliest    acquaintances.      "  Ten    to    one    we 


wiiuld  not  see  the  little  creatures  at  first  ;  but 
presentK,  from  the  \ery  nt-arest  iuni|ier  would 
come  the  well-known  sounds.  A  curious  song, 
if  song  it  can  be  called  —  as  much  like  a  mouse 
complaining  of  the  toothaclie  as  anything  else 
I  can  liken  it  to  —  it  is  simply  indescribable. 
Then  prrhajis  the  fpiaint  ])erf()rnier  would  dart 
out  into  the  air,  turn  a  somersault  after  a  pass- 
ing midge,  get  right  side  uj).  and  into  the  shrub- 
lierv  again  in  an  instant  :  or  if  we  kept  still,  with 
wide-open  eyes,  we  would  --ee  him  perched  on 
a  sprav,  settled  firmlv  on  his  legs,  with  his  beak 
straight  up  in  the  air,  the  throat  swelling,  and 
hear   the   curious   musician." 


OVEN-BIRD 

Seiurus  aurocapillus   1  Liiiii(i-ii.\ 

A     II.    n.    .Vuml.cr   1.-4       See   Color    I'l.itt- 


Other  Names. —  Golden-crowned  Thrnsli ;  Teacher: 
Niglitingale ;  Wood  Wagtail:  Golden-crowned  Wag- 
tail ;  Golden-crowned  Accentor. 

General  Description. —  Length.  6'j  inches.  Upper 
part.s,  olive:  under  parts,  white  with  black  spots.  Bill, 
shorter  than  head,  slender,  tapering  gradually  to  the 
tip :  wings,  long  and  pointed ;  tail,  even  or  slightly 
notched. 

Color. —  Adults  (sexes  alike):  Crown  with  tico 
iiarrozi'  lateral  stripes  of  black  inclosin</  a  much  broader 
center  stripe  of  taiviiy.  the  feathers  of  the  latter  tipped 
with  pale  olive,  especially  on  back  pf  head  which  is 
sometimes  uniform  light  olive;  over  eye,  light  grayish- 
olive  fading  into  a  lighter  hue  of  the  same  on  sides  of 
head :  rest  of  upper  parts,  plain  dull  olive-green,  the 
inner  webs  of  wing-  and  tail-feathers,  grayish-brown  : 


a  wliitisb  eye-ring:  lores,  grayish-white  or  dull  whitisli ; 
cheeks  and  under  parts,  white,  the  chest  and  sides 
heavily  streaked  with  black,  the  flanks  more  narrowly 
and  less  distinctly  streaked:  a  dusky  streak  below 
cheeks ;  under  wing-coverts,  pale  olive-yellow :  bill, 
dark  brown,  much  paler  below  ;  iris,  brown  ;  legs  and 
feet,  pale  flesh  color  in  life. 

Nest  and  Eggs, —  Nest  :  Imbedded  in  ground  in 
dry  woods:  of  dried  grass,  artfully  arched  over  with 
dead  leaves  and  so  perfectly  blending  with  its  surround- 
ings as  to  be  rarely  discovered  unless  the  bird  is  scared 
from  the  nest.  Eggs  :  3  to  6,  glossy  white  marked  by 
specks  and  spots  scattered  over  entire  surface  usually 
more  thickly  around  larger  end. 

Distribution. —  Eastern  Xortb  .America;  north  to 
Xo\a   Scotia,  .'\nticosti  Island.  Labrador   (?),  southern 


Drawing  by  R.  I.  Brasher 

OVEN-BIRD   iS  nat.  size) 
The  precision  cf  this  bird's  gait  approaches  the  u 


152 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


and  western  shores  of  Hudson  Ray.  and  the  Yukon 
Valley  in  Alaska;  west  to  eastern  base  of  Rocky 
Mountains  in  Colorado  and  Montana,  accidentally  to 
British  Columbia ;  breeding  southward  at  least  to 
Virginia,  tlie  Ohio  Valley,  and  Kansas,  probably  much 


farther,  and  in  the  Bahamas;  in  winter.  Gulf  coast  of 
United  States.  Bahamas,  Greater  Antilles,  Swan  Island 
and  Old  Providence  Island,  Caribbean  Sea,  and  through 
Mexico  into  Central  America,  and  northern  South 
America    (Colombia). 


Most  land  birds  of  terrestrial  habits  progress 
on  the  ground  by  jumping  or  running.  Com- 
paratively few  species  walk,  and  the  commoner 
of  these  include  the  Crow,  the  Larks,  the  Star- 
Hng,  the  Crackles,  the  Pipits,  the  Water-Thrushes 
and  the  Oven-bird.  Of  these  the  Oven-bird  is 
easily  the  most  accomplished  walker ;  indeed 
there  is  something  which  approaches  the  tincon- 
sciouslv  comical  in  the  |irecision  of  this  bird's 
gait    as    it    promenades    on    its    jircttv    pink    feet 


Photo  by  H.  K.  J"b  Courtesy  of  Outing  Pub.  Co. 

OVEN-BIRD  ON  HER  NEST 

over  the  leaves  and  along  fallen  logs.  This  im- 
pression is  heightened  by  its  practice  of  bobbing 
its  tail  during  its  frequent  pauses,  an  operation 
which  is  curiously  at  variance  with  its  otherwise 
rather  over-dignified  demeanor.  The  Water- 
Thrushes  also  walk  and  bob  their  tails  much 
after  the  manner  of  the  Oven-bird,  which  they 
also  resemble  in  size  and  coloration ;  but  there 
are  certain  distinctive  markings  by  means  of 
which  the  birds  may  readily  be  distinguished, 
while  the  \\'ater-Thrushes'  decided  preference 
for  the  banks  of  streams  is  not  shared  by  the 
Oven-bird.  The  tail-bobbing  habit  has  given 
the  birds  the  popular  name  of  "  Wagtail " 
(which  is  inaccurate  in  so  far  as  it  conveys  the 
idea  that  the  movement  is  a  lateral  one)  ;  but 
the  Water-Thrushes'  natural  habitat  is  recog- 
nized by  the  adjective,  "  water,"  which  qualifies 
the  remainder  of  the  popular  designation,  while 
the  Oven-bird  is  known  as  the  Wood  Wagtail. 
The  scientific  family  name  of  the  Oven-bird  and 


the  Water-Thrushes,  Sciiinis.  means  "  to  wave 
the  tail." 

Besides  its  walking  and  its  tail-bobbing,  the 
bird  has  other  distinctive  peculiarities.  The 
most  pronounced  of  these  is  the  architecture  of 
its  nest,  from  which  it  takes  its  name.  Like 
most  birds  which  build  on  the  ground,  the 
female,  when  forced  by  the  near  approach  of  an 
intruder  to  leave  her  nest,  flutters  away,  drag- 
ging one  wing  as  if  it  were  broken,  this  ap- 
parently being  a  deliberate  ruse  intended  to  dis- 
tract attention  from  the  nest.  But  the  nest 
usually  is  so  cleverly  hidden  that  it  is  by  no 
means  easy  to  find,  even  when  the  observer 
thinks  he  sees  the  precise  point  at  which  the 
bird   appeared. 

Again,  the  common  song  of  the  Oven-bird  at 
once  challenges  the  attention.  It  consists  of 
several  repetitions  of  a  two-syllabled  note  uttered 
rapidly,  and  in  a  quick  crescendo.  Mr.  Bur- 
roughs translates  this  utterance  into,  "  Teacher, 
Teacher,  Teacher,  TEACHER,"  and  the  note 
does  approximate  the  sound  of  the  word.  The 
bird  puts  the  accent  invariably  upon  the  last 
syllable  —  as  do  some  New  England  school- 
children —  so  that  what  he  says  is,  Tea-cher', 
Tca-chcr',  and  so  on,  the  series  often  ending 
with  the  first  syllable  alone.  This  somewhat 
monotonous  chant  is  metallic  and  strident 
rather  than  musical ;  but,  as  Mr.  Burroughs  says. 
"  Wait  till  the  inspiration  of  its  flight-song  is 
upon  it.  What  a  change  1  Up  it  goes  through 
the  branches  of  the  trees,  leaping  from  liinb  to 
limb,  faster  and  faster,  till  it  shoots  from  the 
tree-tops  fifty  or  more  feet  into  the  air  above 
them,  and  bursts  into  an  ecstasy  of  song,  rapid, 
ringing,  lyrical ;  no  more  like  its  habitual  song 
than  a  match  is  like  a  rocket ;  brief  but  thrilling; 
emphatic  but  musical.  Having  reached  its  cli- 
max of  flight  and  song,  the  bird  closes  its  wings 
and  drops  nearly  perpendicularly  downward  like 
the  .Skylark.  If  its  song  were  more  prolonged, 
it  would  rival  the  song  of  that  famous  bird.  The 
bird  does  this  many  times  a  day  during  early 
June,  but  oftenest  at  twilight." 

Ornithologists  generally  agree  with  Mr.  Bur- 
roughs that  this  song  is  most  likely  to  be  heard 
when  the  bird  is  mounting,  as  he  describes,  and 
in  the  late  afternoon  or  early  evening;  but  at 


\\\\RBLERS 


153 


least  one  careful  and  accurate  observer,  Brad- 
ford Torrey,  recorded  (in  Birds  in  the  Bush) 
having  heard  the  bird  sincf  it  from  a  perch,  or 
e\'en  on  the  ground,  and  as  earlv  as  f)  o'clock  in 
the  morning. 

It  seems  clear  now  that  this  remarkable  flight- 
song-  of  the  Oven-bird  is  the  one  which  Thoreau 
heard  so  often,  l)ut  failed  to  identify  with  the 
singer,  though  he  knew  the  "  Golden-crowned 
Thrush,"  the  name  by  which  the  Oven-bird  was 
formerly    known.      No    less    than    fifteen    times 


(between  1S51  and  i860)  did  he  note  in  his 
journal  hearing  this  mysterious  "  night-war- 
bler's"  song:  and.  curiouslv  enough,  one  entrv 
(for  May  16,  1838)  begins  with,  "A  golden- 
crowned  thrush  hops  <|uitc  near,"  and  ends  with, 
"Hear  the  night  warbler."  So  anximis  did  he 
become  to  identify  this  imseen  bird  that  l^mer- 
son.  with  his  gentle  irnnv.  w.arned  him  to  desist 
trying  to  find  out  what  it  was,  lest,  should  he 
be  succes^ful.  lie  should  thereafter  lose  all  in- 
terest in  life.  Geor(;e  ( ii,.\nni-:N. 


LOUISIANA  WATER-THRUSH 

Seiurus  motacilla   {I'icillot) 

A     ().    I-.    Xumlier   br',       Sec    (  ni,,,-    ri.iti-   q_' 


Other  Names. —  Large-billed  Water-Thrush  ;  South- 
ern Water-Thrush  ;  Wagtail ;  Water  Wagtail. 

General  Description. —  Length,  6> 4  inches.  Upper 
parts,  grayish-olive  ;  under  parts,  white  with  streaks  of 
grayish-olive.  Bill,  shorter  than  head,  slender,  taper- 
ing gradually  to  the  tip  :  wings,  long  and  pointed  ;  tail, 
even  or  slightly  notched. 

Color. —  Adults  (sexes  alike):  Above,  plain  .uray- 
ish-olive,  slightly  darker  on  crown  ;  a  conspicuous  stripe 
of  white  over  eye,  extending  from  nostril  to  beyond 
end  of  ear  region ;  a  triangular  loral  spot  and  broad 
stripe  behind  eye  of  dark  grayish-olive,  the  latter  some- 
times involving  greater  part  of  sides  of  head,  the  lower 
portion  of  which,  however,  is  always  paler  and  streaked 
with  dull  whitish;  a  crescentic  mark  of  white  on  lower 
eyelid ;  cheeks,  white,  usually  flecked  with  grayish- 
olive ;  under  parts  zcliitc  or  biiffy-ii'hilc,  becoming 
cream-bufif  on  flanks  and  under  tail-coverts  ;  chin  and 
throat,  immaculate  or  with  only  a  few  minute  flecks  : 
chest,  sides,  and  flanks,  broadly  streaked  with  grayish- 
olive,  the  streaks  on  front  of  chest  smaller,  more 
distinctly  wedge-shaped;  under  wing-coverts  brownish- 
gray  ;  bill,  horn-brownish  ;  iris,  brown ;  legs  and  feet, 
pale  flesh  color. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest:  Placed  among  roots  of 
fallen  timber,  old  logs,  or  under  mossy  banks,  always 
near  water  and  always  carefully  concealed;  exterior 
of  mud-covered  leaves  which  form  a  solid  foundation 
when  dry ;  inner  nest  of  twigs,  grass  stems,  rootlets 
and  skeletonized  leaves,  lined  usually  with  dead  pine 
needles,     Eccs  :      4    or    5,    rarely   6,    white    or    creamy. 


thickly   maikeil    with   chestnut,   rufous,   and    lilac,    more 
heavily  toward  larger  end. 

Distribution. —  Eastern  United  States  to  South 
.Xmerica;  breeds  from  southeastern  Nebraska,  south- 
eastern Minnesota,  and  the  southern  parts  of  Michigan, 
(3ntario,  New  York,  and  New  England  south  to  north- 
eastern Texas,  northern  Georgia,  and  Central  South 
Carolina;  winters  from  northern  Mexico  to  Colombia, 
the  Greater  Antilles,  .^ntigua,  and  the  Bahamas  ;  acci- 
dental   in    California. 


LOUISIANA   WATER-THRUSH   (J  nat.  si 
This  Warbler's  song  is  a  true  voice  of  the  ' 


The  Louisiana  W'ater-Thrush  is  one  of  the 
comparatively  few  birds  that  walk.  Like  the 
Oven-bird  it  also  bobs  its  tail  as  it  proceeds,  a 
peculiarity  from  which  it  derives  its  popular 
name  of  Water  Wagtail,  the  "water"  being  in 
recognition  of  its  fondness  for  the  banks  of 
running  streams.  By  careless  observers  the  bird 
is  sometimes  mistaken  for  the  Spotted  Sandpiper 


(often  called  the  "Tip-up"),  because  of  both 
birds'  habit  of  bobbing  their  tails;  but  their  very 
different  appearance  should  prevent  this  con- 
fusion. 

The  bird's  resemblance  to  a  Thrush  begins  and 
ends  in  its  back  being  of  an  olive-brown  color, 
while  its  grayish-white  breast  is  streaked  with 
l)lack.      Its   manners   are   totally   different    from 


154 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


Photo  ot  liabitat  groii|)  C'     ■ 

LOUISIANA   WATER-THRUbHbb 


those  of  any  of  the  Thrushes,  and  it  is  much 
smaller  than  the  smallest  member  of  this  species. 
Its  characteristic  movements  are  very  quick  and 
nervous ;  it  is  seldom  at  rest ;  and  its  normal 
timidity  is  increased  during  the  breeding  season, 
when  it  is  exceedingly  wary  about  approaching 
its  nest  (which  usually  is  very  cleverly  hidden) 
in  the  presence  of  an  intruder. 

In  its  striking  exuberance  and  singularly 
weird  and  ringing  quality,  this  Warbler's  song 
is  a  true  voice  of  the  wild.  The  listener  whose 
ear  recognizes  and  whose  heart  responds  to  such 
utterances  is  thrilled  by  it.  The  emotions  which 
it  conjures  up  are  perfectly  tangible  to  him,  yet 
it  would  be  difficult  to  analyze  them,  and  vir- 
tually impossible  to  describe  them  in  words. 
One  appreciative  listener  speaks  of  the  song  as 
"  loud,  clear,  and  exquisitely  sweet,  beginning 
with  a  burst  of  melody  which  becomes  softer  and 
more  delicate  until  the  last  notes  die  away,  lost  in 
the  ripple  of  the  stream,  above  which  the  birds 
are  generally  perched."  Like  the  Oven-bird,  this 
Warbler  has  a  flight-song,  described  by  Dr. 
Chapman  as  "  a  thrilling  performance  which 
carries  the  bird  above  the  tree-tops  in  uncon- 
trollable musical  ecstasy." 

"  This  bird  frequents  wet  ground  always,  but 
is  by  no  means  confined  to  running  streams,  since 
it  is  a  regular  inhabitant  of  more  or  less  stag- 
nant swamps,  and  is  not  infrequently  found  in 
bushy  marshes  at  some  little  distance  from  large 
woods.  It  usually  nests  among  the  up-turned 
roots  of  a  prostrate  tree,  but  also  hides  its  nest 
under  the  edges  of  a  fallen  log  or  in  the  sloping 
bank  of  a  small  stream,  or  even  among  the 
tangled  roots  at  the  edges  of  a  cut,  where  a 
stream  has  washed  away  the  soil  at  a  bend.  In 
other  cases  it  nests  on  the  ground  in  an  ordinary 
swamp,  placing  the  nest  under  the  roots  of  a  tree 
or  otherwise  hiding  it  from  view."     (Barrows.) 

A  singular  feature  of  its  nest-building  is  the 
pathway  of  leaves  leading  from  the  nest  and 
formine  a  doormat  sometimes  a  foot  lonsf. 


WATER-THRUSH 
Seiurus   noveboracensis   noveboracensis    (Gmclin) 


A.   CI.   r.   Nv 


nber 


Other  Names. —  New  York  Warbler ;  Small-billed 
Water-Thrush :  Northern  Water-Thrush :  Wagtail : 
Water  W'agtail :  -Aquatic  Wood  Wagtail :  Aquatic 
Thrush;   New  York  Water-Thrusli. 

General    Description. —  Length,   554    inches.     Upper 


See   Color    Pl.ite   gj 

parts,  olive  :   under  parts,  yellow  streaked  and   spotted 
with     sooty-oHve.       Bill,     shorter    than    head,     slender, 
tapering  gradually  to  the  tip ;  wings,  long  and  pointed ; 
tail,  even  or  slightly  notched. 
Color. —  Adults  (sexes  alike)  :    Above,  plain  olive; 


oufti-sy  of  tlir  N.'w  Yii.k  Stal.-  Mus,-un 


Plate  98 


WILSON'S   WARBLER      ll'*..,,,,.  ,,„x,ll,i  ;,„.„7/,f  (Wilson! 


MARYLAND    YELLOW-THROAT 
Gr„lhl,ii„s  l,„h„s  lr,rl,„.  I  l,ij,n;il'llsj 


YELLOW-BREASTED   CHAT 


KENTUCKY    WARBLER     ",.,„■,«•;, /,■ /„r,„„,„»  (Wilson  ) 

FEMALE 

HOODED    WARBLER      ll''V»'m,V.  r.(nn<i  (I)ocI(I;i<Tt  1 


WARBLERvS 


155 


hroaci  stripe  of  buff  over  eye  extending   from  nostril 
>   sides  of   neck;   a   triangular  spot  of   dusky-olive   in 


ti 

front 
eve : 
b'clou 
ycllo\ 


f  eye.  and  a  broad  streak  of  tbe  same  behind 
crescentic  mark  of  light  buffy  on  lower  eyelid; 
•ye  and  sides  of  head,  streaked  with  olive  and 
.h  or  pale  buffy;  broad  check'  stripe  and  under 
siilplnir-yellozv ;  the  chest,  sides,  and  flanks, 
streaked  with  dark  sooty-olive,  the  lower  throat  with 
shorter  wedge-shaped  marks,  the  upper  throat  usually 
with  small  triangular  spots  or  flecks  of  the  same;  under 
tail-coverts  with  concealed  portion  extensively  olive  or 
grayish-olive;  bill,  dusky-brown;  iris,  brown;  legs  and 
feet,  flesh  color. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest:  Always  carefully  concealed 
in  a  bed  of  moss  at  the  base  of  a  stump  or  tree  or  along- 
side moss-covered  logs,  near  water  and  on  or  near  the 
ground;  constructed  of  particles  of  moss  and  lined  with 


moss  stems;  frecpiently  a  few  clead  leaves  and  twigs  are 
intermingled  to  give  it  stability,  and  the  f<iun<lation  is 
often  quite  substantial.  KuiS :  4  or  5,  creamy-white 
spotted  with  chestnut  and  lilac,  more  heavily  around 
larger  end  ;  usually  smaller  than  those  of  the  Louisiana 
Water-Thrush. 

Distribution. —  Eastern  North  .America;  north  to 
Davis  Inlet.  Newfoundland,  and  the  shores  of  Hudson 
Bay ;  breeding  southward  to  northern  New  England, 
mountains  of  Pennsylvania  and  West  Virginia  (spruce 
belt),  southern  Michigan  (?),  northeastern  Illinois; 
in  winter  southward  throughout  West  Indies  and  along 
eastern  coast  districts  of  Central  .America  to  Colombia, 
Venezuela,  British  Guiana,  Brazil  (':'),  Trinidad,  and 
Tobago,  and  to  Swan  Islanil  and  Old  Providence  Island, 
Caribbean  Sea;  occasional  in  Bermudas;  accidental  in 
southern   Greenland. 


The  Northern  Water-'I'lirusii  is  .similar  to,  Init 
somewhat  smaller  than,  the  l-oiiisi;ina  W'atcr- 
Thriisli,  from  which  it  may  he  distingtiished  h\ 
its  unspotted  throat  and  the  white  Hne  over  the 
eye.  Like  its  larger  relative,  it  walks  and  hohs 
its  tail  meanwhile,  but,  unlike  the  former,  during 
its  migrations  it  is  apt  to  appear  in  gardens  near 
houses,  and  is  comparatively  tame  and  trustful. 
Ry  some  observers,  the  song  of  this  species  is 
considered  more  musical  than  that  of  the  Louisi- 
ana Water-Thrush,  though  the  effort  seems  to 
lack  the  uncanny  quality  of  the  larger  bird,  and 
its  flight-song  is  a  less  elaborate,  though  pleas- 
ing, i)erformance. 

Griniiell's  Water-Thrush  (Sciiirus  novcbora- 
cciisis  uotabilis)  is  foimd  in  western  North 
.'\merica.  It  is  larger  than  the  Northern  Water- 
Thrush,  and  the  coloration  of  the  upper  parts  is 


less  olive,  :ind  the  tinder  parts  ;ire  usuall 
with  httle,  if  ;in\-,  \-elli)w  lint'c. 


LOUISIANA  WATER-THRUSH 
With  food  for  young 


KENTUCKY   WARBLER 

Oporornis  formosus    (JrHson) 

\     I),    n,    Niimh.r   (,77      Sfc   Colnr    Pl.Tlc   g8 


Other  Name. —  Kentucky  Wagtail. 

General  Description.—  Length,  s^  inches.  Uijper 
parts,  olive-green ;  under  parts,  yellow.  Bill,  much 
shorter  than  head,  slender,  tapering  gradually  to  the 
tip ;  wings,  long  and  pointed ;  tail,  much  shorter  than 
wing,  slightly  rounded,  the  feathers  tapering. 

Color. —  AnuLT  Male:  Crown,  black,  the  feathers  of 
crown  and  back  of  head  (especially  the  latter)  tipped 
with  slate-gray;  rest  of  upper  parts,  including  sides  of 
neck,  plain  olive-green ;  outer  web  of  outermost  pri- 
mary, white;  a  stripe  over  eye  of  lemon-yellow;  extend- 
ing from  nostrils  to  just  behind  the  eye,  where  curving 
downward   and    including   the    rear   half,   or   more,   of 


lower  eyelid;  lores,  below  eye  (except  the  yellow  on 
under  cyeliil),  and  greater  part  of  sides  of  head,  uni- 
form black,  this  black  extended  along  edge  of  lozi'cr 
throat  and  forming  a  triangular  patch:  terminal  por- 
tion of  sides  of  head,  olive-green;  under  parts,  clear 
lemon-yellow,  changing  on  sides  and  flanks  to  olive- 
green  ;  bill,  dark  brownish  ;  iris,  brown  ;  legs  and  feet, 
pale  flesh  color.  Adult  I'i^m.xlk:  Similar  to  the  adidt 
male  and  not  always  distinguishable,  but  usually  with 
the  gray  tips  to  feathers  of  crown  broader  (even  those 
of  the  forehead  being  thus  marked)  and  more  brownish- 
gray,  and  the  black  jiatch  on  sides  of  head  more 
restricted  and  less  sharply  defined;  in  some   (probably 


156 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


younger)  specimens  the  black  of  the  crown  is  entirely 
concealed,  and  still  more  rarely  there  is  no  black,  the 
whole  crown  being  uniform  brownish-gray. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest  :  Built  on  ground,  in  a 
thicket,  in  the  woods,  at  the  foot  of  a  tree  or  tussock 
of  weeds;  unusually  bulky  for  the  size  of  the  bird; 
constructed  of  leaves,  small  twigs,  rootlets,  and  grass 
and  lined  with  fine  rootlets  and  horse-hair.  Eggs: 
4  or  5,  white  speckled  with  chestnut,  umber,  and  lilac, 
forming  a  wreath  at  large  end  or  evenly  distributed. 


Distribution. —  Eastern  United  States  ;  breeding  from 
Alabama,  Louisiana  and  Te.xas,  north  to  southeastern 
New  York,  New  Jersey,  eastern  Pennsylvania,  Ohio, 
southern  Michigan,  southern  Wisconsin,  Iowa,  and 
eastern  Nebraska,  west  to  border  of  Great  Plains 
(Texas  to  Nebraska)  occurring  north  (but  not  breed- 
ing?) to  southern  Connecticut  and  Long  Island;  south 
in  winter  to  Cuba  (accidental),  Florida  Keys  (oc- 
casional), and  through  southern  Mexico  and  Central 
America  to  northern  Colombia. 


The  Kentucky  \Varbler  is  a  lover  of  heavily 
timbered  country,  more  especially  of  decidtious 
forests,  where  he  sings  his  turdle,  turdle,  tiirdlc, 
or  pccr-ry,  pccr-rv,  peer-ry  much  as  do  the 
Cardinal  and  the  Carolina  Wren.  He  is  a  per- 
sistent singer  giving  many  hours  a  day  to  his 
musical  efforts  froin  the  tops  of  forest  trees,  and 
if  disturbed  while  singing  will  fly  to  another 
perch  and  resume  his  song. 

The  nest  is  built  down  in  the  shorter  bushes  or 
ranker  weeds,  or  on  tlie  ground  at  the  foot  of 
trees.     Mr.  Dawson  says  that  the  easiest  way  to 


find  it  "  is  to  spy  upon  the  female  when  the  nest 
is  a-making."  The  Kentucky  Warbler,  Hke 
many  other  ground  birds,  walks  instead  of  hop- 
ping, and  bobs  his  tail  in  that  peculiar  manner 
which  has  given  them  the  vernacular  name  of 
Wagtail  —  he  is  the  Kentucky  Wagtail.  Unlike 
the  Oven-bird  and  the  W^ater-Thrush,  his  scien- 
tific name  does  not  express  this  characteristic. 
Instead  it  means  "  beautiful  autumn  bird." 

These  birds  begin  to  leave  early  for  their 
winter  home.  In  July  many  are  ot?  by  way  of 
Mexico  for  Colombia,  South  America. 


CONNECTICUT  WARBLER 

Oporornis  agilis    iJl'iIson) 

A.    II.    r.    Xunit.t-r   I. -8      St-c   (.  olur    Hate   00 


Other  Names. —  Bog  Black-throat ;  Tamarack  Warb- 
ler ;   Swamp   Warbler. 

General  Description. —  Length,  5'..  inches.  Fore 
parts,  slate ;  upper  parts,  olive ;  under  parts,  yellow. 
Bill,  much  shorter  than  head,  slender,  tapering  gradu- 
ally to  the  tip ;  wings,  long  and  pointed ;  tail,  much 
shorter  than  wing,  slightly  rounded,  the  feathers  taper- 
ing. 

Color. — Adult  Male:  Forehead,  crown,  and  sides 
of  head,  uniform  slate  color,  relieved  by  a  conspicuous 
and  uninterrupted  cyc-ring  of  white;  chin,  throat,  and 
chest,  plain  slate-gray,  paler  on  chin  and  upper  throat, 
deeper  (sometimes  almost  slate  color)  on  chest;  rest  of 
under  parts,  pale  yellow,  the  sides  and  flanks,  light 
olive-green;  upper  parts  (except  forehead  and  crown), 
plain  olive-green,  tlie  outer  web  of  outermost  primary 
edged  with  whitish  ;  bill,  dark  brownish  ;  iris,  brown  ; 
legs  and  feet,  pale  flesh  color.     Adult  Female:  Similar 


to  the  adult  male,  but  slate  color  of  head  replaced  by 
grayish-olive,  olive  or  brownish-olive,  that  of  chin  and 
throat  by  pale  brownish-buffy  or  dull  brownish-white, 
that  of  chest  by  a  deeper  shade  of  the  same  color  as 
chin  and  throat;  olive  of  upper  parts  browner. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest:  On  ground  in  swampy 
woods;  compactly  built,  entirely  of  dried  grass  in  some 
instances,  built  of  shreds  of  bark,  leaf  stems,  and 
grass  in  other  cases,  and  lined  with  fine  rootlets  and 
hair.  Eggs  :  4.  white,  or  creamy-white,  spotted  with 
black,  brown,  and  lilac,  forming  a  wreath  around  large 
end. 

Distribution. —  Eastern  United  States  and  liritish 
Provinces  ;  north  to  Maine,  New  Hampshire,  Vermont, 
Ontario,  Michigan,  and  Manitoba  west  to  Minnesota 
and  (casually)  Colorado,  breeding  in  Ontario  (?) 
Minnesota,  and  Manitoba  ;  in  winter  south  to  Bahamas. 
Colombia,  and  upper  Amazon  valley. 


The  Connecticut  ^\'arbler  is  a  strange  rare 
bird;  a  walker  instead  of  a  hopping  bird;  a  bird 
that  is  hard  to  find  even  when  it  is  in  the 
neighborhood ;  a  bird  which  conies  north  by  one 
route  and  returns  by  another,  and  is  almost  lost 


to  the  world  in  both  breeding  and  winter  feeding 
seasons.  In  the  spring  this  Warbler,  with  the 
white  eye-ring  and  slate-gray  bib,  comes  up  out 
of  the  West  Indies  to  Florida,  then  across  to 
the    Mississippi    and    Ohio    valleys,   and   almost 


Courtesy  of   th,-  N.-w  York  Stjt.-  Mus. 


Plate  99 


A'f 


# 


MT-;,^ 


CONNECTICUT    WARBLER      ";■■ 


WARBLERS 


15; 


disappears  in  the  forests  of  nortlicrii  Michigan. 
Minnesota,  antl  Manitol)a.  I'Voni  the  fxtreniely 
few  records  of  this  bird  during  the  breeding 
season,  one  might  suppose  there  were  but  a  few- 
dozen  pairs  in  existence,  allowing  even  for  those 
that  are  really  never  observed  by  man.  Alaybe 
no  one  but  Ernest  T.  Seton  has  ever  seen  a  nest 
of  the  Connecticut  ^^'arbler.  He  found  a  nest 
and  eggs  on  a  mossy  mound  in  a  tamarack 
swamp  near  Carberry,  Manitoba,  June  21.  1NS3. 
During  the  breeding  season  Connecticut  has 
two  songs :  one,  becchcr.  six  times  repeated,  and 
the  other,  frce-chapcl.  frcc-chapcl.  fycc-chapcl, 
zchuit.  Free  chapel  and  Beecher  and  Connecti- 
cut do  not  seem  -^o  inappropriately  associated  in 
the  same  bird,  so  that  his  Puritan  name  is  quite 
proper. 


In  the  late  summer,  the  Connecticut  Warblers 
start  for  the  land  of  the  Puritan  and  show  them- 
selves there  nuich  more  commonlv  than  else- 
where. They  do  not  go  south  by  way  of  the 
Mississippi  basin,  but  following  east  through  the 
St.  Lawrence  and  Great  Lakes  basin,  reach  New 
England  in  September.  These  rare  Warblers 
pass  on,  most  of  them,  unnoticed  through  the 
.\tlantic  coast  States  and  leave  Florida  in  Octo- 
ber. The  latest  known  record  of  this  bird  was 
on  (Jctober  2Jd  in  the  northern  part  of  Colombia 
in  .South  America.  From  then  until  April  the 
bird  is  lost  to  the  world.  One  year  on  April  qth 
the  bird  was  seen  at  Tonantins,  a  town  of  the 
upper  .\mazon.  The  earliest  I'lorida  date  is  onlv 
a  month  later. 

L.  Nelso.\  Nicikjls. 


MOURNING    WARBLER 
Oporornis  Philadelphia    (Wilson) 

A.    ().    f.    XiimliL-r   (,79       See   Color    I'l.itc    loo 


Other  Names. —  Black-throated  Ground  Warbler ; 
Crape  Warbler ;  Alourniiig  Ground  Warbler  :  Phila- 
delphia Warbler. 

General  Description. —  Length,  5'j  inches.  Upper 
parts,  gray  and  olive-green :  under  parts,  black  and 
yellow.  Bill,  much  shorter  than  head,  slender,  tapering 
gradually  to  the  tip ;  wings,  long  and  pointed ;  tail, 
shorter  than  wing,  slightly  rounded,  the  feathers  taper- 
ing. 

Color. — .•\dult  M.m.e:  Head  and  neck,  plain  slate- 
gray  deepening  into  slate  color  on  crown  and  hindneck, 
and  into  almost  black  on  lores;  chin,  throat,  and  chest, 
black,  the  feathers  with  distinct  terminal  margins  of 
slate-gray,  these  sometimes  so  broad  in  front  and  on 
the  sides  that  the  black  is  mainly  concealed,  except  on 
chest;  rest  of  under  parts,  clear  canary-yellow,  chang- 
ing to  olive-green  on  sides  and  flanks ;  upper  parts, 
except  crown  and  hindneck,  uniform  olive-green,  the 
outermost  primary  edged  with  whitish;  bill,  brownish- 
black  ;  iris,  brown  ;  le.gs  and  feet,  pale  flesh  color.  No 
Zi'hitc  cyc-r'uuj  in  adult  male.  Adult  Female:  Similar 
to    the    adult    male,    but    without    any    black    on    chin. 


throat,  or  chest,  which  are  smoke  gray,  much  paler 
(sometimes  brownish-white)  on  chin  and  part  of 
throat ;  slate  color  of  crown  and  hindneck  duller,  tinged 
witli   olive  ;   yellow   of  under  parts  slightly  paler. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest;  In  swampy  ground  among 
weed  bunches  or  old  logs,  well  concealed  and  very  near 
the  earth,  or  in  the  uplands  in  dry  cut-over  clearings 
in  small  bushes  one  or  two  feet  above  ground ;  com- 
posed of  dead  weeds,  some  bark  strips,  and  grass  and 
thickly  lined  with  black  horse-hair  or  black  rootlets. 
Eg(jS  :  4  or  5,  white,  marked  around  large  end  with 
chestnut  and  lilac  and  with  small  spots  of  former 
color  scattered  over  remainder  of  the  shell. 

Distribution. —  Eastern  United  States  and  British 
Provinces;  breeding  from  mountains  of  West  Virginia 
(spruce  belt)  and  Pennsylvania,  New  York,  higher  dis- 
tricts of  New  England,  Michigan,  eastern  Nebraska  (  ?), 
and  Minnesota,  northward  at  least  to  northwestern 
Ontario,  and  Manitoba,  during  migration  southward 
tlirough  eastern  United  States  in  general  (as  far  west 
as  central  Texas),  and  in  winter  south  to  Nicaragua, 
Costa  Rica,  Colombia,  and   Ecuador. 


The  Mourning  Warbler  is  a  quiet  Thrush-like 
bird.  If  he  did  not  sing  in  the  spring,  he  might 
be  considered  not  only  scarce  but  very  rare. 
Even  as  it  is  there  are  many  people  who  have 
never  seen  the  bird,  even  in  the  broad  area  in 
which  it  breeds. 

In  the  cool  tangles  and  thickets  of  mirthern 
hillsides   ribbed  by  cooler  gullies,   and  down  in 


the  fiat  valley  swamps  where  brush  and  small 
trees  aboinid,  that  is  where  the  Mourning 
\\'arblcr  breaks  forth  into  song,  because  his  nest 
is  somewhere  not  far  away  from  the  view  of 
])oison  ivy,  deadly  nightshade,  or  skunk  cabbage. 
.\  little  bush  in  the  rank  ferns  may  be  the  nest- 
ing site.  The  warmer  and  more  settled  parts  of 
the  wide  breeding  area  are  seldom  visited  by  the 


158 


BIRDS   OF    AMERICA 


Mourning  Warbler.  He  reserves  his  song,  re- 
sembling those  of  both  the  Oven-bird  and  the 
A\'ater-Thrush,     for     the     distant     and     wilder 


MALE  MOURNING  WARBLER 
At  his  nest  among  the  nettles 


regions.  lie  sings  tec,  tc-o,  te-o,  te-o,  ivc-sc, 
loud  and  clear.  Often  he  will  sing  a  half-hour 
at  a  time  far  up  in  a  tree  over  a  desperately 
mixed  tangle  down  in  which  the  female  sits 
silently  on  the  nest. 

In  the  late  summer  they  begin  their  southward 
journey,  appearing  frequently  along  hedgerows, 
fences  full  of  bushes,  and  by  the  highways 
that  skirt  the  edges  of  tamarack  and  cedar 
swamps.  The  western  birds  go  south,  and  the 
eastern  birds  go  southwesterly  until  they  all  meet 
in  one  migration  route,  Louisiana  and  eastern 
Texas.  Then  they  are  off  through  Mexico  to 
the  winter  home  in  Central  America,  Colombia, 
and  Ecuador. 

There  is  really  nothing  about  this  bird  to 
suggest  mourning  except  the  cowl.  The  cowl  is 
a  beautiful  bluish-slate  set  off  by  a  black  scarf 
on  the  breast.  The  bird  is  quiet  and  retiring  in 
manners,  never  showy  but  rather  cheerful  and 
self-contained.  The  Philadelphia  in  his  scientific 
name  suggests  the  Quaker  garb,  and  the  bird  sug- 
gests the  Quaker  manner.  Alexander  Wilson 
was  not  far  wrong  to  call  him  the  Philadelphia 
Warbler.  L.  Nelson  Nichols. 


MACGILLIVRAY'S  WARBLER 
Oporornis  tolmiei  ( ./.  A'.   To7s.'nseiid) 


Other   Name. —  Tolmie's  Warbler. 

General  Description. —  Length,  5'  i  inches.  Fore 
parts,  slate ;  upper  parts,  olive-green ;  under  parts, 
yellow.  Bill,  much  shorter  than  head,  slender,  tapering 
gradually  to  the  tip ;  wings,  long  and  pointed ;  tail, 
shorter  than  wing,  slightly  rounded,  the  feathers  taper- 
ing. 

Color. —  Adult  M.-m.e:  Head  and  neck,  slate  color, 
deepening  into  black  on  lores,  a  conspicuous  spot  of 
-Lcltitc  on  each  eyelid,  smaller  on  the  upper  ;  cliin  some- 
tiiries  white ;  throat  and  chest,  darker  slate  but  the 
feathers  margined  with  pale  gray,  never  forming  a 
"solid"  black  patch  on  chest;  upper  parts  (except 
crown  and  hindneck),  plain  olive-green,  duller  (some- 
times slightly  tinged  with  gray)  on  back  and  shoulders; 
outer  web  of  outermost  primary,  edged  with  white; 
under  parts  of  body,  clear  lemon-yellow,  becoming 
yellowish  olive-green  on  sides  and  flanks  ;  bill,  dusky- 
brown  ;    iris,   lirown ;    legs    and    feet,    light    flesh    color. 


.^DULT  Female:  Crown,  hindneck,  and  sides  of  head 
and  neck,  mouse-gray,  fading  into  pale  gray  on  chin, 
throat,  and  chest ;  a  distinct  white  mark  on  each  eyelid, 
as  in  the  adult  male;  rest  of  plumage  as  in  adult  male. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest  :  In  some  localities,  near 
ground  in  clump  of  grass  or  bushes,  in  others,  in  sap- 
lings or  juniper  trees,  from  3  to  6  feet  up;  made  of 
dried  grass  and  lined  with  fine  grass,  a  few  rootlets,  or 
some  horse-hair.  Eggs:  3  to  5,  usually  4,  creamy- 
white,  spotted  at  large  end  with  dark  brown,  lilac-.gray, 
and  a  few  pen  lines. 

Distribution. —  Western  United  .States  and  British 
Columbia ;  breeding  in  mountains  from  Pacific  coast 
ranges  to  Rocky  Mountains,  north  to  British  Columbia 
(including  Vancouver  Island),  south  at  least  to  Ari- 
zona, New  Me.xico,  and  western  Texas  ;  during  migra- 
tions cast  to  western  Nebraska,  central  Texas,  etc. ; 
soutli  in  winter  to  Cape  St.  Lucas  and  over  whole  of 
Me.xico  and   Central  America  to  Colombia. 


W.  Leon  Dawson,  the  Ohio  ornithologist,  in- 
sists that  Macgillivray's  Warbler  should  be  called 
"  Tolmie's  Warbler."  the  ornithological  powers- 
that-be  to  the  contrary  notwithstanding,  and  for 
the  following  interesting  reasons :    The  bird  was 


discovered  (in  1839)  bv  the  American  ornitholo- 
gist Townsend,  who  named  it  in  honor  of  Dr. 
\\'.  T.  Tolmie,  a  friend  of  his  and,  later,  as  a 
factor  of  the  Hudson  Ray  Company,  of  all 
naturalists  and  such-like  wanderers.     Btit  when 


Courtesy  of    fh~-  N.-^   York  Stat.^   Mu 


Plate    lOO 


\1 


\ 


WARBLERS 


IS9 


Tuwiiscnd  died,  his  collection  came  into  the  pos- 
session of  John  James  Authibon.  who  i)rocceded 
to  give  this  Warbler  the  name  of  Macgillivray,  a 
Scotch  naturalist  of  his  acquaintance,  who  never 
saw  America,  much  less  the  bird  —  alive,  at  any 
rate.     l\i  this  Mr.   Dawson  objects. 

r)r.  Coues  wrote  that  he  did  not  remenilier  ever 
to  have  seen  this  Warbler  "  more  than  a  few 
feet  from  the  ground,  nor  elsewhere  than  in 
thick  brush,"  and  another  observer  notes  its 
])eculiar  [practice  of  spending  much  time  actually 
on  the  ground,  where  it  scratches  industriously 
among  the  leaves  and  searches  under  dead  logs 


for  its  insect  food.  Townsend  remarked  its 
sprightly  warble,  which  it  delivers  with  its  bead 
and  bill  raised  almost  vertically,  its  little  throat 
swelling  with  the  effort,  and  Air.  Dawson  reduces 
the  .syllables  of  the  song  to  the  words,  ,s7;, •,-/', 
shcrf',  slwrp,  shear,  slirnr,  slirrf'.  The  same  ob- 
server noted  that  when  the  fem.-ile  is  flnsluil 
from  her  nest  (  which  is  not  easy  to  find  ),  instead 
of  raising  an  outcry,  or  attempting  to  dccov  the 
intruder  awa\-,  she  usu.ilh'  stays  near  and  feeds 
among  the  branches  with  a  great  show  of  in- 
dustry and  |ireoccui)ation. 


Drawing  by  R    I    Brabhcr 

MACGILLIVRAY'o  WARBLER  (J  nat.  size) 
Most  frequently  observed  in  thickets   or  on  the  ground 


MARYLAND  YELLOW-THROAT 
Geothlypis   trichas  trichas    {  Liiincrii.<:) 

A.    (1.    r.    Xuml.ir   i.,Si       See   Color    I'late   g.S 


Other  Names. —  Olive-colored  Yellow-throated 
Wren;  Yellow-throat;  Wciterii  Yellow-throat;  North- 
ern \'ellow-throat ;  Northern  Maryland  Yellow-throat; 
Hlack-niasked   Groun<l  Warbler;   Grouncl   Warbler. 

General  Description, —  Length,  4'4  inches.  Upper 
parts,  olive-green;  under  parts,  yellow  and  huffy.  Itill, 
decidedly  shorter  than  head,  tapering  gradually  to  the 
tip:  wings,  short  and  much  rounded;  tail,  about  the 
same  length  as  wing  and  much  rounded. 
\"oi.    111.     -  IJ 


Color. — .A.i)ui-T  M.\le;  Forehead  (sometimes  includ- 
iiu;  front  of  crown)  and  sides  of  head,  uniform  Mack, 
formint!  a  eonsficuous  "  mask,"  this  margined  poste- 
riorly by  a  band  of  light  ash-gray  of  variable  width, 
sometimes  narrow  and  abruptly  defined  behind,  some- 
times covering  whole  of  crown;  rest  of  upper  parts, 
plain  dull  grayish  olive-green,  back  of  head  and  hinder 
part  of  crown  tinged  with  brown  ;  chin,  throat,  and 
chest     (sometimes    breast    also),    lemon-yellow;    under 


i6o 


BIRDS    OF    AMERICA 


tail-coverts,  paler  yellow;  rest  of  under  parts,  pale 
buffy,  becoming  light  buffy  grayish-brown  on  sides  and 
flanks;  edge  of  wing,  yellow;  bill,  black;  iris,  brown; 
legs  and  feet,  flesh  color.  Advlt  Fem.\le:  Head 
without  any  black  or  gray;  crown,  grayish-olive,  the 
forehead  or  front  of  crown  (sometimes  both)  tingcl 
with  cinnamon-brown  ;  sides  of  head,  similar  in  color 
to  crown,  but  paler,  especially  above  and  around  eye ; 
yellow  of  under  parts,  paler  and  duller  than  in  the 
male,  sometimes  distinct  only  on  under  tail-coverts ; 
otiierwise  similar  in  coloration  to  the  adult  male. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Xest:  Placed  close  to  ground  but 
raised  clear  by  a  platform  of  dried  grass  and  leaves, 
and  usually  in  damp  locations  and  carefully  hidden 
beneath  a  tussock  or  patch  of  briers  ;  large  and  bulky 
for  size  of  bird;  composed  of  coarse  grass,  leaves,  root- 
lets, lined  with  finer  grass,  and  a  few  hairs.  Eggs  : 
3  to  5.  commonly  4,  shiny  white,  specked  and  blotched 
with  chestnut,  purplish-black,  brown,  and  a  few  spots 
of  lilac. 

Distribution. —  Eastern  North  America  ;  breeds  from 
North  Dakota,  northern  Minnesota,  northern  Ontario, 
and  southern  Labrador  south  to  central  Te.xas.  northern 
parts  of  the  Gulf  States,  and  Virginia ;  winters  from 
North  Carolina  and  Louisiana  to  Florida,  the  Bahamas, 
Cuba.  Jamaica.  Guatemala,  and  Costa  Rica. 


One  who  has  ears  to  hear  what  the  birds  say 
is  in  no  danger  of  remaining  long  unaware  of  the 
existence  of  the  beautiful  little  Warbler,  the 
Maryland  Yellow-throat;  for  his  curiously 
rhythmical  cry  of  "  Witchery,  zvitchcry.  witch- 
ery, WITCHERY,"  with  uniformly  increasing 
emphasis,  is  one  of  the  characteristic  wood 
sounds  during  the  bird's  sojourn  in  its  northern 
range.      And  the  male  bird  is  both  picturesque 


Phutu  by  A.  A.  Allen 

MALE  MARYLAND  YELLOW-THROAT 
Approaching  his  nest  and  open-mouthed  young 

and  conspicuous,  \vith  his  bright  yellow  waist- 
coat, and  the  black  mask  drawn  over  his  eyes, 
suggesting  the  villain,  which  he  most  certainly  is 
not.  On  the  contrar\',  besides  being  both  hand- 
some and  amiable,  he  is  one  of  the  most  indtis- 
trious  and  useful  of  the  useful  \\'arbler  family. 
The  Yellow-throat's  movements  and  manners 
are  characteristic  of  his  kind,  wliich  is  to  sav, 
he  is  a  restless  and  rather  timid  bird,  and  much 
given  to  darting  about  hither  and  thither.  But 
his  timidity  is  less  pronounced  than  that  of  many 
other  members  of  his  species  which  pass  their 
time  almost  wholly  in  the  tree-tops,  thereby  tax- 
ing the  patience  —  not  to  sav  the  eyesight  —  of 


MARYLAND  YELLOW-THROAT   (nat. 
Courtesy  of  Am. 


WARBLERS 


i6i 


the  bird-student ;  for  the  Yellow-throat  does 
much  of  his  hunting  and  frolicking  in  the  brush 
and  thickets  near  enough  the  ground  to  make 
observation  of  his  movements  comparatively  easy. 

Indeed,  the  bird  manifests  something  like  a  dis- 
tinct friendliness  for  and  interest  in  human  be- 
ings, provided  they  keep  at  what  he  considers  a 
safe  distance.  This,  however,  does  not  prevent 
him  from  spending  much  of  his  time  in  almost 
inaccessible  marshes,  and  especially  sucli  as 
have  heavy  cat-tail  growths,  in  which  the  bird 
seems  veiy  much  at  home.  In  drier  surround- 
ings he  frequently  alights  on  the  ground,  where 
he  also  places  his  deep  cup-shai)ed  nest,  and 
hence  his  somewhat  misleading  popular  name  of 
"Ground  \\'arbler,"  which  would  be  fairly  ac- 
curate if  it  were  applied  to  the  Oven-bird  nr  the 
Water-Thrushes.  Like  these  birds,  and  the 
Yellow-breasted  Chat,  the  Yellow-throat  has  a 
flight  song,  uttered  as  he  flutters  a  few  feet  into 
the  air  from  a  tree-top;  but  it  is  little  more  than 
a  confused  and  brief  inarticulate  jumble  of  notes. 
and  hardly  deserves  to  be  called  a  song  at  all. 

The  Yellow-throat  is  one  of  the  birds  which 
is  frequently  imposed  upon  by  the  Cowbird.  and 
seems  entirely  to  lack  the  discernment  of  the 
Yellow  Warbler  and  the  Chat  in  detecting,  and 
their    wit    in    defeating,    the    jiarasite's    |)iiryiose. 


Indeed,  the  female  'S'ellow-throat  not  only  incu- 
bates the  Cowbird's  egg,  but  solicitously  feeds 
the  vor;icious  foundling,  sometimes  to  the  neglect 
of  her  own  voung,  who  ni;iy  in  consequence  be 
almost  starved  or  smothered  by  the  ugly  inter- 
loper. George  Gladden. 

Theri-  are  several  regional  varieties  of  the 
.Maryland  Yellow-thro;it.  north  of  the  Mexican 
boundarv,  ditTering  but  little  from  each  other 
either  in  size  or  in  coloration.  The  Florida,  or 
."southern,  \'ello\\-lliroat  (  iicollilypis  frichas 
iijiitita  )  is  found  in  the  s(juthe.-istern  United 
States,  breeding  from  the  Disni.il  .Swamp  in 
X'irginia  soiuh  to  h'lorida  and  along  the  Gulf 
coast  to  Louisiana  ;  in  the  winter  it  may  be  found 
from  the  coast  of  South  Carolina  to  southeastern 
Texas  and  Cuba.  The  \\ Cstcrn  Yellow-throat 
{  Grotlilxf^is  trirhas  (n-cidriitiiUs) .  is  distributed 
over  the  arid  region  of  the  western  United  States 
and  the  provinces  of  southwestern  Canada;  it 
winters  south  to  Cape  San  Lucas  and  Tepic, 
Mexico.  The  Pacific  Yellow-throat  {Gcothlypis 
Iriclias  aricria)  lives  in  the  Pacific  coast  district, 
breeding  from  southern  British  Columbia  to 
southern  California  anfl  wintering  south  to  Cajie 
,San  Lucas.  The  .S.ilt  Marsh  Yellow-throat 
I  (Jciitlilvf^is  triclios  siiniiisd  )  is  limited  to  the  salt 
m;nshes  about  .'^an  Franci--co  P>av. 


Photo  by  W.  L.  Finley  and  H.  T.  Bohhnaii 

MALE  PACIFIC  YELLOW-THROAT  FEEDING  YOUNG 


1 62 


BIRDS   OF    AMERICA 


YELLOW-BREASTED   CHAT 

Icteria  virens  virens   i  l.iniuciis) 


A     II,    I',    Xumher   1.8. 

Other  Names. —  Chat ;  Common  Chat  ;  Yellow  Chat ; 
Vellmv   Mockinyhirrl:   Polyglot  Chat. 

General  Description. —  Length.  7'_.  inches.  Upper 
Iiarts,  olive-Krecn  :  under  parts,  yellow  and  white.  Bill, 
much  shorter  than  head,  stout,  and  arched;  wing, 
moderate  in  length,  rounded ;  tail,  as  long  or  longer 
than  wing,  rounded,  the  feathers  narrow  with  rounded 
tips. 

Color. — Adult  AI.\le  :  Above,  plain  grayish  olive- 
green,  grayer  on  upper  tail-coverts  and  (usually) 
lower  rump;  a  stripe  (extending  from  nostrils  to  a 
short  distance  l>ehiT>(I  eve),  a  crescentic  mark  on  Inwer 


NEST  OF  YELLOW-BREASTED  CHAT 
Found  amid  a  dense  tangle  of  briers 


eyelid,  and  front  iiart  of  cheeks,  white;  lores  and 
around  eye  ( immediately  beneath  the  white  mark  on 
lower  eyelid),  black  or  dark  slaty;  sides  of  head,  gray 
(sometimes  tinged  with  olive-green),  with  narrower 
and  indistinct  paler  shaft-streaks  ;  chin,  throat,  cheeks 
(except  in  front),  chest,  breast,  upper  abdomen,  and 
front  half  or  more  of  sides,  rich  f'ure  Icinon-ycllozv, 
sometimes  (in  highly  plumaged  specimens)  tinged  with 
orange ;  flanks,  pale  gray  ;  rest  of  under  parts,  white, 
the  under  tail-coverts,  sometimes  tinged  with  buff; 
under  wing-coverts,  yellow  ;  bill  and  inside  of  mouth, 
black ;  iris,  brown ;  legs  and  feet,  dusky  bluish-gray. 
Adult  Female:  Similar  to  the  adult  male,  but  slightly 
smaller,  and  duller  in  coloration,  the  black  or  dark 
slate  of  lores  and  around  eye  usually  replaced  by  gray, 
the  yellow  of  under  parts  usually  less  pure  or  deep 
(that  on  sides  of  breast  sometimes  tinged  with  olive), 
the  flanks  and  under  tail-coverts  more  strongly  bufTy, 
and  the  lower  bill  usually  lighter  colored. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest:  Built  in  midst  of  tangled 
thickets  or  briers  from  3  to  5  feet  up;  constructed  of 
dead  leaves,  strips  of  bark,  dried  grass,  and  weed 
stalks  and  lined  with  fine  grasses.  Eggs  :  3  to  5, 
usually  4,  pure  white,  tinged  with  pink  when  fresh, 
generally  fairly  evenly  spotted  with  clearly  outlined 
specks  of  chestnut  and  lavender,  sometimes  coalescing 
into  a  wreath  around  larger  end. 

Distribution. —  Eastern  North  America;  breeds  from 
southern  Minnesota,  Wisconsin,  Michigan,  Ontario, 
Central  New  York,  and  southern  New  England  south 
to  southeastern  Texas,  southern  parts  of  Gulf  States, 
and  northern  Florida:  winters  from  Pueblo,  Vera 
Cruz,  and  Y'ucatan  to  Costa  Rica ;  casual  in  Maine. 


l^'ew  birds  appear  to  ]i(issess  aiiythiiif,'  like  a 
sense  of  humor.  Most  of  tlieni  seem  to  be  con- 
tented enough,  and  many  act  and  sinsj — especi- 
ally in  breeding  time  —  as  if  they  were  really 
happy  :  but  these  moods  e\'idently  are  purely  sub- 


jective; they  d(.)  not  reveal  any  cajiacity  to  make 
or  to  take  a  joke. 

.\  conspicuous  e.xception  to  this  rule  is  the 
lUue  Jay,  who  is  a  natural  horn  mountebank  — 
if  there  is  such  a  thing  in  hirdland  —  and  another 


Courtesy  of  Am.  Mus.  Nat.  Hist. 

YELLOW-BREASTED  CHAT   (■  nat.  sizel 

In  Tom-Sawyer-Iike  sliowing  off,  he  has  no  equal 
the  American  bird-world 


WARBLERS 


163 


is  the  Yellow-breasted  Chat,  the  largest  and 
withal  the  most  unwarbler-like  of  all  the  Ameri- 
can Warblers.  Unlike  the  Jay.  the  Chat  doesn't 
make  other  birds  the  Inilt  of  his  jokes  or  the 
object  of  his  ridicule  or  wrath.  Nor  has  he  ever 
been  accused  of  the  cannibalistic  and  thieving 
propensities  of  the  Jay.  Indeed,  his  jests  and 
antics  seem  often  to  be  directly  excited  by  the 
presence  of  man,  and  intended  for  his  amuse- 
ment. And  in  Tom-Sawyer-like  showing  otT 
before  humans  he  has  no  equal  in  the  world  of 
American  birds. 

Speaking  of  his  vocal  performances,  Mr.  F>ur- 
roughs  very  aptly  says  that  the  Cat-bird  "  is 
mild  and  feminine  compared  with  this  rollicking 
polyglot,"  and  then  presents  the  following  capital 
picture  of  the  bird :  "  Though  very  shy,  and 
carefully  keeping  himself  screened  when  you 
show  any  disposition  to  get  a  better  view,  he 
will  presently,  if  you  remain  quiet,  ascend  a  twig, 
or  hop  out  on  a  branch  in  plain  sight,  lop  his  tail. 
droop  his  wings,  cock  his  head  and  become  ver\- 
melodramatic.  In  less  than  half  a  minute  he 
darts  into  the  bushes  again,  and  again  tunes  up, 
no  Frenchman  rolling  his  r's  so  tluentlv. 
C-r-r-i--r-r,-'^clirr.-that's  if.-clicc.  quack,  cliick.- 
vit.  yit.  yit.-iiozi^'  hit  it,-tr-r-r,-i^'lieii,-c'i.Tii.',  ca"u'.- 
cut,  cut , -tea-boy r'tJi'lio ,  who,-mciv,  mew,  and  so 
on  till  you  are  tired  of  listening."  {Wake  Robin.) 
And  as  an  appropriate  exit  after  one  of  these  de- 
liverances, the  bird  is  likely  to  take  himself  otT 
in  a  curious  fluttering  flight,  with  his  head  down 
and  his  legs  dangling  at  full  length,  as  though 
he  were  trying  to  make  himself  as  ludicrous  as 
possible. 

Like  the  Oven-bird  and  the  Water-Thrushes 
the  Chat  has  a  flight  song  which  is  a  voluble  and 
altogether  remarkable  efifort,  containing  manv 
notes  of  real  beauty.  This  he  delivers  as  he  rises 
steadily  upward,  his  legs  dangling  and  his  head 
elevated,  the  rapidly  uttered  syllables  pouring 
from  his  throat  with  astonishing  volubility,  until 
he  reaches  a  height  twice  or  more  than  that  of 
the  surrounding  trees.  Here  he  pauses  and 
hovers  for  a  few  moments  on  verv  rapidlv  mov- 
ing wings,  the  song  gradually  dying  awav  until  it 


ceases,    when    he    drt)ps    aliuost    perpendicularly 
and  regains  his  old  or  another  perch. 

It  should  be  recorded  also,  to  the  credit  of  this 
peculiar  bird,  that  when  the  Cowbird  attempts 
to  make  it  the  victim  of  its  parasitic  practice,  the 
mother  Chat  often  destroys  the  parasite's  egg 
and  her  nwii  as  well.  Cicokcr  (iT.ADnrix. 


Phutu  by  A.  .•\.  .Allrii 

ONE  OF  THE  SHYEST  OF  NORTH  AMERICAN  BIRDS 

Iv  photograph  ever  secured  of  a  Yellow-breasted  Chat 
on  its  nest 


Th. 


The  Liing-tailed  Chat  ( Ictcna  vircns  longi- 
cauda)  of  the  western  Cnited  States  is  similar 
to  the  Yellow-breasted  Chat  ;  hut  the  wing,  tail, 
and  bill  are  longer,  the  tail  always,  or  nearly  al- 
ways, longer  than  the  wing;  the  upper  parts  arc 
more  grayish  olive-green,  usually  more  nearly 
gray  than  olive-green  ;  white  of  cheek  region 
much  more  extended,  frequently  occupying  the 
entire  cheek  area  ;  yellow  of  under  parts  averages 
deeper. 


HOODED  WARBLER 

Wilsonia  citrina  (  Boddacrl ) 


A,    n,    f.    Xumhcr 


Other 

catching 
Warbler. 
General    Description. —  Length.   5J4    inche 


Names. —  Hooded    Titmouse ;     Hooded     Fh- 
Warbler:     Rlack-headed     Warbler;     Mitered 


Upper 


See   Color    Plate  9.S 

parts,  olive-green;  face  and  inider  parts,  yellow,  I'.ill. 
not  over  !j  length  of  head,  tajiering  gradually  to  the 
tip:  wings,  moderately  long  and  pointed;  tail,  rntnided 
or  slightly  double  rounded. 


164 


BIRDS    OF    AMERICA 


Color. — Adult  Male:  Forehead  and  front  of  crown, 
together  with  lores,  sides  of  head,  space  around  eyes, 
and  cheeks,  rich  lemon-yellow,  the  lores  sometimes  with 
a  little  of  dusky  or  black;  rest  of  head,  including 
throat,  together  zcith  chest,  deep  black,  that  of  the  chest 
with  an  abruptly  defined  convex  rear  outline ;  hindneck, 
back,  shoulders,  lesser  wing-coverts,  rump,  and  upper 
tail-coverts,  plain  yellowish  olive-green,  wings  and  tail, 
dusky  brownish-gray  with  yellowish  olive-green  edg- 
ings, the  middle  wing-coverts  broadly  tipped  with  that 
color;  inner  webs  of  three  outermost  tail-feathers 
extensively  white  terminally,  that  on  the  exterior 
feathers  occupying  more  than  the  terminal  half;  under 
parts  of  body,  pure  rich  lemon-yellow,  becoming  olive- 
greenish  on  sides  and  flanks,  the  under  tail-coverts, 
paler  yellow ;  under  wing  coverts,  pale  yellow ;  bill, 
blackish  in  spring  and  summer,  more  brownish  in  fall 
and  winter ;  iris,  brown ;  legs  and  feet,  pale  flesh  color. 
Adult  Female:  Similar  to  the  adult  male,  but  with 
much  less  of  black  on  head,  sometimes  with  none;  if 
the  black  occupies  approximately  the  same  area  as  in 
the  male  it  is  much  duller  and  broken  with  olive-green 
on  crown  and  back  of  head  and  with  yellow  on  throat; 
usually,  the  throat  is  entirely  yellow,  sometimes  with  an 


indication  of  a  dusky  collar  across  tlie  lower  portion  or 
on  upper  chest,  and  the  crown  and  back  of  head  are 
blackish  only  next  to  the  yellow  of  forehead  and  sides 
of  head;  when  there  is  no  black  on  the  head  the  crown 
is  entirely  olive-green,  becoming  more  yellowish  on 
forehead. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Xest  :  Generally  placed  within  a 
foot  of  ground  in  bushes;  composed  of  shreds  of  grape- 
vine and  tree  bark,  dried  leaves,  and  grass,  neatly  inter- 
woven and  fastened  with  spiders'  webs,  and  lined  with 
fine  grass,  horse-hair  and  a  few  rootlets.  Eccs :  3  to  5. 
but  almost  always  4,  creamy-white  sparingly  spotted  in 
wreaths  around  large  end  with  reddish-brovt'n,  purple, 
and  dull  lavender. 

Distribution. —  Eastern  United  States,  west  to  edge 
of  the  Great  Plains;  breeding  northward  to  Connecti- 
cut, southeastern  New  York  (lower  Hudson  valley), 
central  New  York,  northeastern  Illinois,  eastern 
Nebraska,  etc. ;  southward  to  South  Carolina,  Ala- 
bama, and  Louisiana ;  occasional  northward  to  Massa- 
chusetts, northeastern  New  York,  southern  Ontario, 
southern  Michigan,  and  Wisconsin;  in  winter  south  to 
Cuba  and  Jamaica  and  through  eastern  Mexico  and 
Central  America  to  Panama ;  casual  in  the  Bermudas. 


The  black  domino  of  the  Maryland  Yellow- 
throat  is  replaced  in  the  male  Hooded  Warbler 
by  a  broad  yellow  mask,  extending  over  the  fore- 
head to  the  crown  of  the  head  and  well  back  of 
and  below  the  eyes,  this  yellow  patch  being 
sharply  set  oflf  by  a  solid  black  framework,  which 
forms  a  sort  of  cap  or  hood  for  the  bird's  head, 
and  a  bib  for  his  throat.  These  markings  are 
very  conspicuous,  and,  being  pectiliar  to  this  bird, 
it  may  readily  be  identified  by  means  of  them. 

Like  the  Yellow-throat,  however,  this  Warbler 
is  found  much  in  brvish  or  the  lower  branches  of 
trees,  within  easy  observation  range.  Under 
these  conditions  one  may  not  only  enjoy  to  the 
full  the  bird's  singularly  striking  and  beautiful 
plumage,  but  may  see  as  well  many  evidences  of 
its  natural  gentleness  and  friendliness.  Even 
when  flushed  from  her  nest,  the  female  bird 
fltitters  about,  tittering  a  mildly  protesting  chirp 
and  showing  her  outer  white  tail-feathers,  but 
without  the  display  of  fear  and  rage  commonly 


expressed  by  other  birds  under  stich  conditions. 

Dr.  Chapman,  to  whose  afifections  this  bird  evi- 
dently makes  a  very  strong  appeal,  says  of  its 
song:  "To  my  ear,  the  words  ynii  iinisf  come 
to  the  7^'oods  or  yoii  ivoii't  sec  111c,  uttered 
quickly,  and  made  to  run  one  into  the  other, 
exactly  fit  the  bird's  more  prolonged  vocal  efforts, 
though  they  are  far  from  agreeing  with  the  at- 
tempts at  syllabification  of  others.  The  call  is 
a  high,  sharp  cheep,  easily  recognized  after  it 
has  been  learned."  (  The  IJ'arblers  of  North 
America.)  Mrs.  Wright's  interpretation  of  the 
song  is  Clic-7\.'e-co-tsip,  tsip,  che-zcc-en.  There 
appear  to  be  two  song-periods,  the  first  ending 
early  in  July  and  the  second  occupying  about  the 
last  week  of  August. 

The  genus  to  which  this  \\'arbler  belongs,  and 
which  includes  the  \\^ilson's  ^^'arbler  and  its 
variants  and  the  Canada  \\'arbler,  was  named 
IVilsonia  by  Bonaparte  in  honor  of  Alexander 
Wilson,  father  of  American  ornithology. 


WILSON'S  WARBLER 

Wilsonia  pusilla  pusilla  (U^ilson) 


A     O.   V.    Number  1.8; 

Other  Names. —  Wilson's  Flycatcher;  Wilson's  Fly- 
catching  Warbler ;  Wilson's  Black-cap ;  Wilson's  Black- 
capped  Flycatching  Warbler ;  Black-capped  Warbler  : 
Black-cap ;  Black-capped  Flycatching  Warbler ;  Green 
Black-capped  Warbler. 

General  Description. —  Length.  414  inches.  Upper 
parts,  olive-green ;  under  parts,  yellow.     Bill,  not  over 


See   Color  Tlate  98 

'/>  length  of  head,  tapering  gradually  to  the  tip  ;  wings, 
moderately  long  and  pointed :  tail,  sli.ghtly  double 
rounded. 

Color. — Adult  Male:  Forehead,  above  and  around 
eye,  and  entire  under  parts,  lemon-yellow,  the  sides  and 
flanks  slightly  tinged  with  olive-green;  crouni.  glossy 
blue-black,    the    feathers    slightly    elongated,    distinctly 


WARBLERS 


I6.S 


mitlined;  rest  of  upper  parts,  uniform  olive-Krceii  ;  the 
sides  of  neck  and  sides  of  head,  similar  hut  rather  more 
yellowish :  primaries  and  secondaries,  purplish-hmwn 
edged  with  olive-green  :  bill,  dark  brown  :  iris,  brown  ; 
legs  and  feet,  light  brownish.  AnuLT  Fe.m.m.e:  Similar 
to  the  adult  male  and  often  not  distinguishable;  usu- 
ally, however,  slightly  duller  in  color,  with  black 
crown-patch  more  restricted  or  obscured  by  olive-green 
margins  to  the  feathers;  sometimes  the  black  entirely 
absent,  the  whole  crown,  except  forehead,  being  olive- 
green,  the  forehead  and  above  eye.  yellow. 

Nest    and    Eggs. —  Nest:      linliedded    in    ground    in 


The  Wilson  Warbler  is  a  decidedly  busy  and 
restless  Warbler  full  of  individuality  and  cnerj:;y. 
He  is  a  jaunty,  tail-twitchins^  flycatcher,  getting 
his  food  any  way  from  leaf -searching  and  trunk- 
peering  to  darting  out  into  the  air  in  the  style 
of  the  Tyrant  Flycatchers.  His  home  is  in  the 
bushes  that  border  tlie  woodlands,  or  in  the  un- 


swampy  woods;  constructed  of  swamp  grass  and  lined 
with  fine  grass  and  a  few  liairs.  Eiics  :  2  to  4.  (lure 
white,  wreathed  around  larger  end  with  markings  of 
cinnamon  and  lavender-.gray. 

Distribution. —  Eastern  Nortli  .'\merica ;  breeds  from 
the  tree  limit  in  northwestern  and  central  Mackenzie, 
central  Ungava,  and  Newfoundland  south  to  southern 
Saskatchewan,  northern  Minnesota,  central  Ontario, 
New  Hampshire,  Maine,  and  Nova  Scotia;  winters  in 
eastern  Central  America  from  Guatemala  to  Costa  Rica 
and  occasionally  north  to  Alichuacan;  mi.gratcs  mainly 
along  the  Alleghenies. 


the  song  belonged,  the  first  observation  of  the 
\ell()\v  under  jiarts  and  black  cap  makes  the 
identification  certain.  In  the  migrations  up  and 
hack  from  Central  America  by  way  of  Mexico 
and  the  country  west  of  the  Alleghenies,  Wilson's 
lllackcap  is  jirettv  uniform  in  many  places,  but 
verv   imcertain   in   other   localities.      P)Ut   almost 


Drawing  by  R.  I-  Brasher 


WILSON'S  WARBLER   (nat.  size) 
A  decidedly  busy  and  restless  Warbler,  full  of  individuality 


dergrovvth  of  thin  forests,  or  anywhere  along 
cool  streams,  but  always  in  the  northern  parts 
of  America.  South  of  the  international  boun- 
dary he  nests  onlv  in  certain  favoralile  localities. 
He  sings  his  quick,  bubbling  warble  as  a  rule  far 
from  the  haunts  of  man,  though  there  are  places, 
Ottawa  and  elsewhere  in  Canada,  where  this 
Blackcap  is  at  home  not  far  out  of  town. 

The  bluish-black  cap  is  a  distinctive  mark  of 
the  bird.  Even  if  one  should  wonder  to  which 
of  the  Water-Thrushes  or  other  near  relatives 


never    either    in    migration    or   breeding   is   this 
bird  found  in  the  deep  woods. 

The  Black-caps  extend  from  the  Canadian 
Maritime  Provinces  across  the  continent  to  the 
Pacific  and  on  down  in  the  higher  mountains  of 
the  West  nearly  to  the  Mexican  boundary.  But 
in  the  Rockies  and  on  the  coast  there  is  a  varietal 
ditterence.  In  the  Rockies  and  no  farther  west 
than  eastern  Oregon  the  Blackcaps  are  larger 
birds,  richer  yellow  underneath,  and  with  orange 
rather  than  yellow   foreheads.     This  variety  is 


1 66 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


iiariK-d      tlie      I'ileolnted  \\'arbler       {tl'ilsoiiia 

piisilla     pilcolata).        It  occurs     much     nearer 

the  Arctic  Sea  tlian  does  the  Wilson  and  is  one 

of  the  common  birds  in  many  parts  of  coastal 

and  interior  Alaska.     On  the  Pacific  coast  from 


British  Columbia  to  southern  California  the 
Blackcaps  are  about  the  size  of  the  Wilson,  but 
much  brighter  colored  than  the  Pileolated.  Mere 
the  variety  is  named  the  Golden  Pileolated 
Warbler   {ll'ilsoiiia  piisilla  iltrvscula). 


CANADA   WARBLER 
Wilsonia    canadensis    {Liiuunts) 

A,    (>.    I',    Xumlit-r   ^8'i       Sec   Cilor    I'latf   94 


Other  Names. —  Canadian  Warbler:  Canada  Fly- 
catcher; Canadian  Flycatching  Warbler;  Speckled 
Canada  Warbler ;  Necklaced  Warbler ;  Simtted  Cana- 
dian Warbler ;  Canada  Necklace. 

General  Description. —  Length,  5'4  inches.  Upper 
parts,  slate-gray ;  under  parts,  yellow  with  a  necklace 
of  black  sjiols.  Bill,  not  over  lA  length  of  head,  taper- 
ing gradually  to  the  tip ;  wings,  moderately  long  and 
pointed  ;  tail,  slightly  double  rounded. 

Color. — Adult  M.^le:  Forehead  and  croivn,  black, 
the  feathers  (except  sometimes  those  on  forehead) 
margined  with  gray,  producing  a  scaled  appearance; 
forehead  sometimes  with  a  center  line  of  yellowish  — 
rest  of  upper  parts,  siiles  of  neck  and  rear  part  of 
sides  of  head,  plain  slate-gray ;  upper  and  front  part 
of  lores,  cheeks,  and  under  parts  (except  under  tail- 
coverts),  lemon-yellow,  the  outer  portion  of  sides  and 
flanks  slightly  tinged  with  olive;  under  tail-coverts, 
white,  sometimes  tinged  with  yellow  toward  anal  region  ; 
a  conspicuous  eye-ring  of  yetlozeish-zchite.  more 
decidedly  yellowish  on  upper  portion  ;  loral  spot,  space 
below  eye,  together  with  front  and  lower  portion  of 
sides  of  head,  black;  this  continued  (sometimes 
brokenly)  along  sides  of  lower  neck  (between  the 
gray  and  the  yellow )  and  continued  across  the  chest  in 
a  series  of  spots  or  streaks ;  bill,  dusky-horn  color ; 
iris,  brown ;  legs  and  feet,  pale  buffy-brown.  Adult 
Female:     Above,  including  sides  of  neck  and  sides  of 


head,  plain  gray,  tinged  with  olive,  especially  on  back 
and  crown,  tlie  latter  often  showing  darker  centers  to 
feathers  of  forehead  and  crown  ;  upper  and  front  por- 
tion of  lores  and  conspicuous  eye-ring,  pale  yellow  or 
yellowish-white ;  loral  spot  and  below  eyes,  clusky 
olive-gray,  this  sometimes  continued  behind  along 
lower  portion  of  sides  of  neck;  cheeks  and  under 
parts,  except  under  tail-coverts,  lemon-yellow  (slightly 
paler  and  duller  than  in  adult  male)  ;  under  tail- 
coverts,  white;  chest,  streaked  with  olive,  the  streaks 
sometimes  partly  black;  bill,  iris,  and   feet  as  in  male. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest  :  Commonly  on  ground,  in 
tussocks  of  grass,  alongside  a  log,  foot  of  a  bush,  in 
upturned  roots  of  trees,  or  in  cavities  of  banks  near 
streams  or  pools  of  water,  usually  well  concealed; 
com])Osed  of  dried  leaves,  grass,  and  roots  and  lined 
with  pine  needles,  rootlets,  and  horse-hair.  Ei;gs  :  4 
or  5,  white  or  buffy-white  spotted  around  larger  end 
with  reddish-brown  and  lilac,  sometimes  mixed  with  a 
few  black  specks  or  pen  lines. 

Distribution. —  Eastern  North  America ;  breeds 
from  central  Alberta,  southern  Keewatin.  northern 
Ontario,  northern  Quebec,  and  Newfoundland  south  to 
central  Minnesota,  central  Michigan,  southern  Ontario, 
central  New  York,  and  Massachusetts,  and  along 
.Mleghenies  to  North  Carolina  and  Tennessee;  winters 
in  Ecuador  and  Peru  and  casually  in  Guatemala ;  in 
migration  to  eastern  Mexico:  casual  in  Colorado. 


Courtesy  of  Am.  Mus.  Nat.  Hist. 


CANADA  WARBLER  (nat.  size) 
Haunts  the  shrubbery,  wild  vines,  and  thick  i 


WARBLERS 


167 


The  Canada  Warbler  is  a  particularly  inter- 
esting,' bird  because  nf  bis  attractixi'  necklace  of 
iilack  ])endants  on  a  yellow  breast,  and  because 
of  his  sweet  warblini;  litiuid  ■'oni,'.  The  s(int;-  has 
been  S|ielled  nif^-il-cJic,  nif^-it-rlii-.  ntf'-il-i-liitt- 
it-lit.  and  also  t'lc  wc.  t'lc  wc.  tic  wc.  tic  wc.  tl 
it  Te;7.  The  bird  haunts  the  shrubbery,  wild 
\  ines,  and  bushes  of  thick  undergrow  th  in  \  ery 
much  the  same  localities  as  the  Wilson  lilackcap. 
Damp  and  dense  coverts  are  where  the  nests  are 
foimd.  The  Wilsons  on  the  way  north  h.ardlv 
leave  any  jiairs  south  of  the  L'anadi.-m  zone. 
Many  pairs  of  the  Canada  Necklace,  however, 
drop  off  to  breed,  all  through  the  northern  States, 


thoui;h  the  main  body  of  the  mi^jrants  go  on  to 
C'anada.  The  C'anada  is  iiuleed  a  near  relative 
iif  the  Hooded  and  \\  ilsdii  Warblers,  and  shows 
it  by  its  habits.  Like  them  it  is  a  flycatcher, 
taking  much  of  its  food  on  the  wing,  although 
like  a  true  \\arbler  it  also  gleans  among  the 
leaves. 

In  the  spring  ami  fall  migrations  this  bird  is 
not  so  exceedingly  rare  as  to  call  for  the  same 
enthusiasm,  when  found  by  bird  obsei^ers,  that 
would  follow  the  finding  of  a  Kirtland  Warbler. 
Vet  few  observations  of  the  bird  are  made  with- 
iiut  a  thrill  of  |ileasure  liecause  of  its  comparative 
raritv  and  beauty. 


REDSTART 
Setophaga  ruticilla  (  Liinucus) 

.    11.    I'.     Numln-r    (.87         ^ic    Color    V\Mf   9," 


Other  Names. — American  Redstart ;  Redstart  Warb- 
ler; Reii^-tart  Flycatcher:  l-"ire-tail ;  Yellow-tailed 
Warbler. 

General  Description. —  Length,  5.'4  inches.  M.m.e: 
Fore  and  upper  parts,  black ;  under  parts,  white ; 
patches  of  reddish-orange  and  white.  F'em.m.e:  Upper 
parts,  gray  and  olive-green;  under  parts,  white;  patches 
of  yellow  and  white.  Bill,  about  Jj  length  of  head, 
much  depressed,  its  profile  wedge-shaped;  wings, 
rather  long  and  pointed;  tail,  shorter  than  wing,  de- 
cidedly rounded,  the  feathers  broad. 

Color. — .\dult  M.\le  :  Head,  neck,  chest,  and  upper 
parts,  uniform  black,  with  decided  bluish  gloss,  except 
on  wings  and  tail;  basal  portion  of  '(.ving-quills  (crccpt 
tzt'o  innermost  iK.nng-quills)  and  more  than  basal  half 
of  tail-feathers  except  tzeo  (sometimes  only  one)  miitdte 
pairs,  pate  orange,  this  occupying  the  full  width  of  both 
webs  ;  a  large  patch  on  each  side  of  chest  and  breast, 
and  under  wing-coverts,  orange-red ;  rest  of  under 
parts,  white,  usually  with  black  between  the  orange-red 
lateral  patches  and  the  white  in  middle  of  breast ; 
longer  under  tail-coverts,  sometimes  partly  black  or 
dusky ;  bill,  black  in  spring  and  summer,  more  brown- 
ish in  fall  and  winter ;  iris,  brown ;  legs  and  feet, 
blackish.  Adult  Female:  \'ery  different  from  the 
adult  male.  Crown  and  hindneck,  plain  mouse-gray ; 
back,  shoulders,  and  rump,  grayish  olive-green ;  upper 
tail-coverts,  middle  tail-feathers,  terminal  portion  of 
others,  dusky ;  wings,  dusky  ( not  so  dark  as  dusky 
portion  of  tail)  with  light  olive  edgings;  basal  portion 
of  wing-  and  tail-feathers    ( e.xcept  one  or  two  middle 


pairs  and  two  innermost  secondaries),  light  yeliuw, 
that  on  the  wings  more  restricted  than  the  orange-red 
in  the  male,  often  not  showing  at  all  on  primaries ; 
sides  of  head,  paler  gray  than  crown,  especially  the 
lores  and  region  over  eye;  cheeks,  chin,  throat,  and 
chest,  dull  grayish-white ;  rest  of  under  parts,  more 
decidedly  white,  icith  a  conspicuous  patch  of  yellozv  on 
each  side  of  chest  and  breast,  the  center  portion  of 
breast,  together  with  sides  and  flanks,  sometimes  tinged 
with  yellow  ;  bill,  dark  brown  or  brownish-black  in 
summer,  pale  brown  in  winter;  iris,  legs,  and  feet  as  in 
adult   male. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest  :  A  compact,  cup-shaped 
structure  placed  in  fork  of  sapling  or  bush,  usually 
within  15  feet  of  the  ground ;  composed  of  plant 
fibers,  strips  of  bark,  and  grass,  neatly  lashed  together 
with  spiders'  webs,  and  lined  with  fine  grasses  and  hair. 
Eggs  :  Usually  4,  rarely  5,  quite  variable  in  coloration ; 
ground  color  white  to  greenish  or  grayish-white, 
marked  with  specks  and  spots  of  cinnamon-brown  or 
lilac,  generally  wreathed  around  larger  end. 

Distribution. —  North  America  and  northern  South 
.■\merica ;  breeds  from  central  British  Columbia,  west 
central  Mackenzie,  southern  Keewatin,  northern  Quebec, 
and  Newfoundland  to  Washington,  northern  Utah, 
Colorado,  central  Oklahoma,  Arkansas,  and  North 
Carolina ;  rarely  breeds  in  the  southeastern  United 
States  south  of  latitude  35°  ;  casual  in  migration  in 
Oregon,  California,  Lower  California,  Arizona,  and 
nortliern  Ungava ;  winters  in  West  Indies  and  from 
central  Me.xico  to  Ecuador  and   British  Guiana. 


The  Ixedstart  is  not  onlv  one  of  the  most  con- 
spicuously colored  of  the  Warblers,  but  is  per- 
haps the  tnost  restless  and  active  of  this 
essentially  nervous  and  fidgety  faiuily.  It  is  no 
exaggeration  to  say  that  the  male  bird  is  almost 
never  still  wdnile  he  is  awake,  and  that  the  female 


is  motionless  only  when  she  is  incubating.  Not 
content  with  incessant  hopping,  skipping,  and 
fluttering  from  limb  to  liough  and  from  bough  to 
twig  in  its  ceaseless  search  for  larvae  and  bugs 
of  all  kinds,  the  bird  frequently  darts  off  into 
space,  or  down  to  the  ground,  or  against  a  tree- 


1 68 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


trunk  lo  snap  up  an  insect  which  it; 
have  delected.     Thes,    ''.''•-•n-  like 


sharp  eyes 
saHies  may 


I  by  H.  K.  Job 

FEMALE  REDSTART  ON  HER  NEST 


account  for  its  pretty  habit  of  keeping  its  tail 
s])read  and  its  wings  half  ojjen  and  vibrating 
slightly  even  as  it  dances  along  a  limb. 

"Anyone  familiar  with  the  woods  in  sum- 
mer," says  Mr.  Parkhurst,  "  will  recognize  in 
this  the  fiery  little  Redstart  —  a  name  corrupted 
from  '  redstert,'  meaning  red  tail,  this  portion  of 
the  plumage  being  doubly  noticeable  from  the 
amount  of  reddish-yellow  upon  it,  and  from  the 
bird's  habit  of  keeping  it  partly  spread  as  it 
moves  from  limb  to  limb.  The  wings  and  sides 
of  the  breast  also  have  a  dash  of  flame  color, 
intensified  by  the  otherwise  lustrous  black  of  the 
male,  whereas  the  female  —  well,  she  looks  as 
anyone  would  be  supposed  to  look,  arrayed  in 
goods  warranted  not  to  wash.  If  the  male  Red- 
start is  a  fiery  coal,  the  female  is  a  trail  of  ashes 
in  his  wake."     {The  Birds'  Calendar.) 

Unlike  the  Blackburnian  Warbler,  his  rival  in 
color,  whose  happy  hunting  ground  is  the  tree- 
tops  where  he  is  hard  to  find  and  harder  to  fol- 
low, the  Redstart  shows  a  decided  partiality  for 
shrubbery  and  low-hanging  foliage  near  dwell- 
ings, wherefore  he  is  much  the  more  frequently 
and  plainly  seen  of  the  two.  Indeed,  either  his 
confidence  or  his  concentration  on  his  work 
often  causes  him  to  dart  down  and  snatch  an 
insect  from  the  ground  at  the  very  feet  of  the 
astonished  and  delighted  observer. 

Like  the  vocal  efforts  of  most  of  the  Warblers, 
the  song  of  the  Redstart  is  a  lisping  and  rather 
unmusical  effort,  composed  generally  of  the  rapid 
reiteration  of  syllables  like  zuee  and  see  or  see. 
In  fact,  the  bird  seems  to  be  altogether  too  busy 
to  sing  a  real  song. 


PAINTED   REDSTART 

Setophaga   picta  Sicainson 

A.    n.    U.    Number   688 


General  Description. —  Length,  514  inches.  Fore 
and  upper  part>.  black  ;  under  parts,  red :  patches  of 
white.  Bill,  about  'j  length  of  head,  much  depressed, 
its  profile  wedge-shaped ;  wings,  rather  long  and 
pointed ;  tail,  shorter  than  wing,  decidedly  rounded, 
the  feathers  broad  and  rounded. 

Color. —  Adults  (sexes  alike)  :  Head,  neck,  upper 
chest,  sides,  back,  shoulders,  lesser  wing-coverts,  rump, 
and  upper  tail-coverts,  uniform  deep  black,  with  a 
faint  bluish  gloss ;  wings  and  tail,  black,  the  former 
relieved  by  a  large  white  patch  involving  the  middle 
and  greater  coverts  and  edges  of  innermost  secondaries, 
the  latter  with  three  outermost  feathers  extensively 
white  terminally,  this  white  occupying  much  the  greater 
part  of  the  outermost  feather;  lower  chest,  breast,  and 
abdomen,    rich    vermilion    or    poppy-red,    rarely    more 


orange-red ;  under  tail-coverts,  black  or  blackish 
liroadly  tipped  with  white ;  under  wing-coverts,  mostly 
white ;  bill,  legs,  and  feet,  black ;  iris,  brown.  Young, 
FIRST  plumage:  Above,  plain  sooty-black;  the  wings 
and  tail  as  in  adults,  but  the  white  wing-patch  tinged 
with  buff;  beneath,  sooty-grayish  passing  into  dull 
whitish  on  center  of  abdomen ;  the  breast  spotted  or 
broadly  streaked  with  sooty-blackish. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest  :  In  cavities  under  banks  or 
beneath  projecting  stones;  loosely  constructed  of  grasses 
and  vegetable  bark  and  lined  with  horse-hair.  Eggs: 
4,  pearly-white,  thickly  dotted  with  chestnut  and 
lavender. 

Distribution. —  Higher  mountains  of  central  and 
southern  Arizona,  and  New  Mexico,  and  southward 
over  higher  districts  of  Mexico. 


WAGTAILS  AND  PIPITS 


169 


As  far  as  its  characteristic  mtn-enK-nts  are  con- 
cerned, the  Painted  Redstart  might  as  well  he  the 
common  Redstart  of  the  Eastern  States.  For, 
according  to  Mr.  Hen.^haw,  hke  that  h'wd  his 
western  cousin  dances  about  with  his  wings  and 
tail  half  spread,  flits  nervously  from  tree  to  tree, 
dashing  out  occasionally  to  snap  up  an  insect  on 
the  wing,  seldom  stays  in  the  same  tree  more 
than  a  few  minutes,  and  often  clings  to  the  side 


111    ,1   tree   trunk   long  enough   to  dig  a   i^rub   out 
nf  tlu-  hark. 

riie  striking  red,  while,  .and  hlack  phiin.aL;e  'if 
the  adult  hirds  ni.akes  them  verv  conspieuim^  in 
the  dense  green  foliage  of  the  live  oaks  and 
conifers  which  they  frefjuent.  They  seem  to  he 
fond  of  water  and  are  often  found  near  cascades 
and  sjjring  holes.  They  niav  also  be  seen  hopping 
about  on  mossv  banks  and  stumijs  of  large  trees. 


WAGTAILS    AND    PIPITS 

Order  Passcrcs;  suborder  Osciiics;  fainilv  Motacillidcr 


IHE  Wagtails  and  the  Pipits  are  Osciiics  or  song  birds,  with  the  bill  slender, 
notched,  and  cone-shaped;  bristles  at  the  corners  of  the  mouth  obvious  but 
only  two  conspicitously  developed;  the  wing  rather  long  and  pointed;  the 
tail  variable  in  relative  length  but  never  conspicuously  shorter  than  the  wing, 
usually  nearly  as  long, sometimes  longer; the  tip  even,  slightly  notched, double 
notched,  rounded,  or  double-rounded;  the  tail-feathers  rather  narrow,  usually 
tapering  terminally,  but  never  (except  sometimes  the  middle  pair)  pointed 
at  the  tip;  the  tarsus  slender,  always  much  longer  than  bill,  toes  slender,  the 
middle  one  distinctly  longer  than  the  other  forward  toes;  hind  toes  about 
equal  in  length  to  outer  and  inner  toes  or  slightly  longer,  but  stouter;  claws 
slender,  variable  in  relative  length,  that  of  the  hind  toe  (except  in  one  species) 


elongated  and  but  slightly  equal  to  or  exceeding  the  toe  in  length. 

The  family  comprises  birds  of  terrestrial  habits,  which  walk  or  run  gracefully  on  the 
ground,  instead  of  hopping,  and  feed  tipon  insects.  The  Wagtails  are  usually  of  black, 
gray,  and  white  plumage,  but  sometimes  are  partially  bright  yellow  —  always  unstreaked. 
The  Pipits  are  of  streaked  plumage,  with  brownish  or  tawny  tints  prevailing,  in  which  they 
present  a  remarkable  resemblance  to  the  Larks,  as  they  also  do  in  their  habits  and  the 
character  of  their  nests  and  eggs.  The  family  is  most  developed  in  the  eastern  hemisphere, 
to  which  the  Wagtails  are  restricted  (though  one  subspecies  breeds  in  the  Arctic  zone  of 
western  Alaska).  America  possesses  only  the  Pipits  represented  by  about  eight  species 
and  only  two  of  these  eight  are  found  north  of  the  Rio  Grande. 


PIPIT 

Anthus  rubescens   (  Tims  fall) 


A.    O.    v.    Xumber   ..c 

Other  Names.— American  Pipit:  .American  Titlark; 
Prairie  Titlark:  Hudsonian  Wagtail:  Brown  Lark; 
Louisiana  Lark ;  Red  Lark. 

General  Description. —  Length.  6i_,  inches.  Upper 
parts,  grayish-olive;  under  parts,  jiinkish-huff  with 
streaks  of   dusky. 

Color. — Adults  in  Spring  and  Summer:  .-//'(ir'r. 
grayish-olive    or    hair-brown,    the    feathers    of    crown, 


Sec   Color    I'late   fig 

back,  and  .shoulders,  darker  centrally,  forming  indis- 
tinct streaks;  wings  and  tail,  dusky  with  pale  grayish- 
olive  or  olive-grayi.sh  edgings,  the  middle  wing-coverts 
margined  terminally  with  pale  grayish-buffy,  dull  gray- 
ish, or  dull  whitisli.  the  greater  coverts  also  sometimes 
margined  at  tips  with  the  same;  outermost  tail-feathers 
zeith  outer  web  and  shaft,  e.rceft  at  base,  and  nearly 
the   terminal   half   of   inner   web,  white;   second    tail- 


lyo 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


leather  with  a  terminal  white  space,  third  sometimes 
also  with  a  small  wedge-shaped  mark  of  white  at  tip; 
a  stripe  over  the  eyes  and  the  ciiliri-  under  parts,  vary- 
ing  from  pinkish-huff  to  deep  ciiiiuiiiioii-hiiff  or  wine- 
colored  buffy  cinnamon ;  the  chest,  sides,  and  flanks 
usually  streaked  with  dusky ;  bill,  dusky-brown ;  iris, 
brown  ;  legs  and  feet,  black  or  brownish  black.  Adults 
IN  Winter:  Similar  to  the  spring  and  summer  plumage, 
but  general  color  of  upper  parts  much  browner  or 
more  greenish-gray ;  the  stripe  over  the  eye  and  the 
under  parts  much  paler,  the  streaks  heavier. 
Nest    and    Eggs. —  Nest  :      On    ground  ;    bulky    but 


compact,  made  of  dried  grass  and  moss.  Eggs  :  4  to  6, 
(lark  chocolate-colored,  overlaid  with  numerous  spots 
and  streaks  of  grayish-brown. 

Distribution. —  The  whole  of  North  .'\merica,  breed- 
ing from  Newfoundland,  Province  of  Quebec,  high 
mountains  of  Colorado  and  the  Sierra  Nevada  (above 
timber  line,  13,000  feet  and  upward)  northward,  includ- 
ing the  Shumagin  and  Aleutian  islands,  Alaska,  and 
northeastern  Siberia;  Greenland  (breeding);  in  winter 
southward  over  whole  of  United  States  and  greater 
part  of  Mexico  to  highlands  of  Guatemala,  and  to 
Bermudas. 


The  American  Pipit  confines  itself  to  of)en 
countrv  entirely,  showing  a  marked  preference 
for  wet  fields  and  hogs,  es])ecially  such  as  are 
frequented  by  Wilson's  Snipe.  In  autumn  it  is 
often  seen,  however,  on  comj)aratively  dry  plowed 


siderable  height,  mounting  by  great  leaps  with 
their  powerftil  wings,  and  constantly  uttering 
their  sharp  double-syllabled  call  which  gives  the 
bird  its  name  of  "  Pipit."  We  do  not  recall 
ever  seeing  one  alight  on  a  bush  or  tree  and  they 
seldom  make  use  of  a  wire  or  fence-post. 


-f- 


Drawing  by  R.  I.  Brasher 

A  sweet- 


PIPIT  (;  nat.  size) 
)iced  wanderer  from  the  mountain  tops  and  the  subarctic  regions 


ground  as  well  as  in  uj)land  jiastiu'es  and  stubble 
fields.  Ustially  it  occurs  in  scattered  flocks,  from 
a  dozen  to  fifty  individuals  being  distributed  over 
a  space  of  a  dozen  acres,  and  when  one  is  started 
several  take  flight:  but  even  when  fiftv  are  on 
the  wing  they  never  collect  into  a  solid  flock, 
but  fly  in  extended  order.  \Mien  feeding  the 
birds  rttn  about  rapidly  on  the  ground,  very  inuch 
like  Sandpipers,  and  tilt  and  flirt  the  tail  tnuch 
like  the  Water-Thrushes  and  some  shore  birds. 
When  flushed  they  rise  very  quickly  to  a  con- 


riie  food  appears  to  consist  mainly  of  worms, 
insects  and  such  other  animal  food  as  can  be 
found  in  damp  places,  freely  mixed  with  seeds 
of  various  kinds.  The  bird  certainly  does  no 
harm  and  presumably  does  much  good  to  the 
agriculturist,  but  its  stay  is  so  short  and  its 
numbers  in  any  one  locality  so  small  that  it 
probably  is  not  an  economic  factor  of  any  great 
importance. 

Walter  Bradford  Barrows,  in  Michigan 
Bird  Life. 


WAGTAILS  AND  PIPITS 


171 


SPRAGUE'S  PIPIT 
Anthus  spraguei    {Aiiiliibon) 

A     (1     V.    Xumlicr   roo 


Other  Names. —  Missouri  Skylark  ;   Prairie  Skylark. 

General  Descriprion. —  Length.  (i'4  iiiclies.  Upper 
parts,  grayish-ijrown.  streaked  with  clusk\'  :  under 
parts,  buffy-white.  streaked  with  black. 

Color. — Adults  in  Spring:  .'Kbove.  pale  huffy  gray- 
ish-brown broadly  streaked  with  dusky,  the  streaks 
broadest  on  back,  narrowest  on  hindneck :  wings  and 
tail,  dusky  with  pale  buffy  grayish-brown  edgings,  the 
middle  and  greater  wing-coverts  margined  terminally 
with  the  same,  the  outermost  primary  edged  with  white; 
outermost  tail-feathers,  'white,  with  basal  half,  or  more. 
of  inner  portion  of  inner  web  dusky -grayish  ;  next  tail- 
feather  with  approximately  the  outer  half  white,  the 
inner  half  grayish-dusky;  sides  of  head,  including  a 
stripe  over  the  eyes,  and  the  lores,  and  the  entire  under 
parts,  dull  buffy-white.  becoming  brownish-buffy  on 
chest,  sides,  and  flanks,  the  chest  narrowly  streaked 
with  blackish,  the  sides  of  breast  more  broadly  but  less 


distinctly  streaked  with  grayish-brown  ;  under  wing- 
coverts,  white;  bill.  dusky-l)rown  or  brownish-black; 
iris,  brown  ;  legs  and  feet,  pale  huffy-brown.  .Adults 
ix  Autumn  .-xnd  Winter:  Similar  to  the  spring  plum- 
age, but  more  pronounced  buffy.  both  above  and  below  ; 
lower  throat,  chest,  breast,  sides,  and  flanks,  rather 
deep  dull  buff,  with  dusky  streaks  on  chest  rather 
broader  and  less  sharply  defined  than  in   spring. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest:  Like  that  of  the  American 
Pipit.  Egi.s:  4  or  5.  pale  purplish-huffy  or  buffy-white, 
thickly  spotted  with  purplish-brown. 

Distribution. —  Interior  plains  of  North  .America; 
breeding  from  eastern  Montana  and  northern  North 
Dakota  to  -\ssiniboia  and  the  Saskatchewan  district  of 
Manitoba ;  in  winter  southward  to  Texas  and  southern 
Louisiana,  and  through  eastern  Mexico  to  \'era  Cruz 
and  Puebla ;  occasional  in  winter  on  coast  of  South 
Carolina. 


It  does  not  seem  very  polite  to  call  a  family 
of  birds  Wagtails  just  because  tliey  have  the 
habit  of  jerking  their  tails  as  they  go  about. 
But  that  is  the  name  they  go  by  in  the  books, 
and  we  have  two  of  them  in  the  United  States. 
We  call  them  Pij.iits  or  Titlarks. 

The  best  known  is  Sprague's  Pipit,  called  the 
Missouri  Skylark,  or  sometimes  the  Prairie  Sky- 
lark. This  bird  gets  the  name  of  .Skylark  be- 
cause he  sings  while  soaring  about  in  the  air 
far  over  our  heads. 

The  Pipits  live  on  the  ground,  ami  walk  and 
rtin,  not  hop.  As  they  go,  they  bob  their  heads. 
and  jerk  their  tails.  They  are  a  little  larger 
than  an  English  Sparrow,  and  they  go  in  flocks. 
They  are  never  seen  in  the  woods,  but  in  open 
pastures  or  plains,  or  beside  a  road. 

Sprague's  Pipit  is  all  in  streaks  of  brown 
and  gray,  and  lighter  below.  He  ha>  a  large 
foot,  which  shows  that  he  lives  on  the  ground, 
and  a  very  long  claw  on  the  hind  toe. 

The  nest  of  the  Pipit  is  made  by  hollowing  out 
a  little  place  in  the  ground  and  lining  it  with 
fine  grasses.  Though  on  the  ground  it  is  one 
of  the  hardest  to  find,  because  it  is  lightly  covered 
with  the  dry  grasses,  and  when  the  bird  is  sitting, 
she  matches  the  grasses  so  well  that  one  can 
hardly  see  her,  even  when  looking  right  at  her. 


The  birds  eat  insects  and  weed  seeds,  and  .go 
about  in  flocks.  Even  then  they  are  hard  to  see. 
because  when  they  are  startled  they  do  not  flutter 
or  fly,  but  crouch  or  squat  at  once,  and  stay 
[jerfectly  still. 

This  bird  is  noted,  as  I  said,  for  his  song. 
It  is  said  to  be  as  fine  as  that  of  the  English 
Skylark  of  which  we  hear  so  much.  Perhaps 
his  way  of  singing  makes  it  still  more  interesting. 
He  starts  up  on  wing,  flies  a  little  one  way,  then 
the  other,  all  the  titiie  .going  higher  and  higher. 
So  he  climbs  on  up.  up,  up,  in  a  zigzag  way.  till 
he  is  fairly  out  of  sight,  all  the  titne  giving  a 
wonderftilly  sweet  song.  It  is  not  very  loud, 
but  of  such  a  kind  that  it  is  heard  when  the 
bird  is  far  out  of  sight.  When  he  can  no  longer 
be  seen,  one  may  still  follow  him  with  a  good 
field-glass.  He  will  sing  without  stopping  for 
fifteen  or  twenty  minutes. 

Then  suddenly  he  stops,  closes  his  wings,  and 
c(jmes  'head  first  toward  the  ground.  It  seems 
as  if  he  would  dash  his  brains  out  against  the 
earth,  but  just  before  he  touches  he  opens  his 
wings  and  alights  like  a  feather,  almost  where 
he  started  from.  He  should  be  as  famous  as 
the  English  bird,  and  will  be  no  doubt,  when  he 
is  better  known. 

Olive  Thor.xe  .Miller. 


BIRDS    OF   AMERICA 


DIPPERS 

Order  Passcres ;     suborder  Oscina: :     family  Cinclidce 

HE  distribution  of  the  family  of  Dippers  (Cinclidcc)  is  restricted  to  Europe  and 
temperate  Asia,  western  North  America,  and  thence  southward  through  the 
Andes  Mountains  to  the  southern  part  of  South  America.  There  are  some 
twelve  or  fourteen  species,  six  of  which  are  found  in  America,  but  only  one 
north  of  Mexico. 

In  coloration,  plain  gray  or  brown  predominates;  and  this  is  never  relieved 
by  conspicuous  markings,  such  as  bars,  though  parts  of  the  plumage  some- 
times have  darker  margins  to  the  feathers  which  produces  an  appearance  of 
scales.  Some  species  have  the  throat  and  breast,  the  crown,  or  part  of  the  back, 
white.  The  sexes  are  alike  in  color,  but  the  young  are  paler  below  than  the 
adults. 

The  bill  is  much  shorter  than  the  head,  slender,  much  compressed,  and  the  tip  rather 
abruptly  curved  downward.  The  wing  is  short,  very  concave  beneath,  with  the  tip  com- 
paratively long  and  stiff.  The  tail  is  decidedly  more  than  half  as  long  as  the  wing,  and  even, 
or  slightly  rounded,  and  with  the  feathers  broad  and  rounded  at  the  tip.  The  head,  neck, 
and  body  are  covered  with  down,  and  the  plumage  is  very  dense  and  soft. 

These  birds  are  found  only  in  mountainous  or  hilly  districts,  where  they  frequent  the 
swift,  rocky  streams  in  which  they  find  their  food  of  water  insects  and  fish  spawn.  They  are 
at  ease  in  the  water,  under  which  they  propel  themselves  by  motion  of  their  wings.  Their 
nest,  a  structure  of  moss,  is  usually  placed  behind  or  near  a  waterfall,  and  is  kept  green 
by  the  spray  which  constantly  moistens  it. 

The  Dippers  are  song  birds  {Oscines).  Apparently  they  are  allied  to  both  the  Thrushes 
and  the  Wrens,  perhaps  more  nearly  to  the  latter  to  whom  they  bear  a  closer  resemblance 
in  their  abbreviated  form,  though  they  differ  in  the  more  pointed  wing  as  well  as  in  other 
details.  In  their  aquatic  habits  and  their  covering  of  down  they  dififer  from  all  other  perching 
birds,  and  for  this  reason  they  are  often  thought  of  as  shore  birds. 


DIPPER 
Cinclus  mexicanus  unicolor  Bniiapartc 

.\     (1,    L'.    Xumber   701 


Other  Names.  —  Water  Ouzel;  .'American  Water 
Ouzel  :   .-\nierican    Dipper. 

General   Description. —  Length,  8  inches.    Slate-color. 

Color. —  Head  and  neck,  plain  gray-brown,  darker 
on  the  crown,  paler  on  chin  and  throat;  rest  of  plumage 
(except  larger  wing-coverts,  wings,  and  tail-feathers), 
plain  dull  slate  color,  the  under  parts,  slightly  paler 
and  more  brownish,  gradually  merging  forward  into  the 
brown  of  foreneck  ;  greater  wing-coverts,  primary  co- 
verts, wings,  and  tail-feathers,  dull  blackish-slate  or 
dusky  margined  with  slate  color;  greater  under  wing- 
coverts,  longer  under  tail-coverts,  and  (at  least  in  more 
early  spring  specimens)  feathers  of  lower  abdomen  and 
flanks,  margined  terminallj-  with  whitish  ;  bill,  black ; 
iris,  brown  ;  legs  and  feet,  horn-brownish. 


Nest  and  Eggs.^  Nest  :  In  a  crevice  of  rocks  or 
among  roots  of  trees,  always  placed  near  running  wa- 
ter, often  where  spray  keeps  the  outside  damp,  and 
sometimes  behind  a  cascade;  a  beautiful  sphere  of  soft 
green  moss  about  seven  inches  in  diameter,  sometimes 
dome-shaped,  deeper  than  wide,  with  a  small  round 
entrance  and  strongly  arched  and  braced  with  leaves. 
grass,  and  twigs,  cemented  with  mud.  Eggs  :  3  to  5. 
idain,  pure  white. 

Distribution. —  Mountains  of  western  North  Amer- 
ica, from  Rocky  Mountains  (including  Black  Hills  of 
South  Dakota)  to  the  Pacific  coast,  and  from  the  Mexi- 
can boundary  (western  Texas  to  southern  California), 
and  northern  Lower  California  to  northern  Alaska. 
(  Resident  throughout,  even  in  Alaskan  localities.) 


There  i.s  only  one  member  of  this  family  in  the  The  body  of  the  Dipper  is  about  as  big  as  a 

United  States  and  that  one  lives  in  the  Rocky      Robin's,  but  looks  much  smaller,  because  his  very 
Mountains  and  the  mountains  of  California.  short    tail    sjives    him    a    "  chunky ''    look.      His 


DIPPERS 


173 


\vin,i;s  are  short  and  rounded,  and  his  ]ilumaL:;e  is 
very  soft  and  so  thick  that  he  can  s;o  under 
water  without  getting  wet.  He  is  shite  color  all 
o\er.  a  little  paler  on  the  breast,  and  his  mate  is 
exactly  like  him,  hut  the  young  Ouzel  has  all  the 
under  feathers  tipped  with  white,  and  usually  a 
white  throat.  Both  old  and  young  have  shining 
white  eyelids  which  show  very  plainly  among 
their  dark  feathers. 

The  Dipper  is  a  water  lover.  The  nest  is 
placed  close  to  it,  generally  near  a  waterfall, 
sometimes  even  behind  a  waterfall,  where  he  has 
to  go  through  a  curtain  of  falling  water  to  reach 
it.  It  is  on  a  shelf  of  rock,  and  shaped  like  a 
little  hut,  with  a  hole  on  one  side  for  a  door.     It 


humped  u[)  with  feathers  puffed  out  over  their 
feet  to  kec[)  warm,  he  is  as  jolly  and  li\el\-  as 
e\'er.  fie  flies  ahout  in  the  sn(i\\.  (li\es  under  the 
ice.  and  comes  (JUt  at  an  airhole,  and  sings  as  if 
it  were  summer  weather. 

Mr.  John  Muir.  who  knows  so  well  the  west- 
ern mountains  and  the  creatures  who  live  there, 
has  told  us  much  of  wh.at  we  know  about  this 
bird.  He  s;ivs  the  ( )u/el  sings  ;ill  winter,  and 
never  minds  the  weather ;  also  that  he  never  goes 
far  from  the  stream.  If  he  flies  away,  he  flies 
close  over  the  brook,  and  follows  all  its  windings 
and  never  goes  "  across  lots." 

When  the  y(]ung  Ouzel  is  out  of  the  nest  and 
wants  to  be  fed.  he  stancU  nn  :\  rock  and  "  dips," 


Drawing  b>  R   B 


DIPPER  (J  nat 
It  flies  well  under  wate 


is  made  of  soft  green  moss,  which  is  kept  alive 
and  growing  by  constant  sprinkling.  .Sometimes 
the  waterfall  itself  keeps  it  wet.  but  the  birds 
have  been  seen  to  sprinkle  it  themsehes.  They 
do  it  by  diving  into  the  water,  then  going  to  the 
top  of  the  nest  and  shaking  themselves  violently. 

This  bird  is  a  curious  fellow.  His  food  is  the 
small  insects  which  li\e  under  water,  and  he  is 
as  much  at  home  there  as  other  jjirds  are  in  the 
air.  He  can  walk  on  the  bottom  with  swift  run- 
ning water  over  his  head,  and  he  can  really  flv 
under  water,  using  his  wings  as  he  does  in  the 
air.    I  ha\e  seen  him  do  it. 

The  Water  Ouzel  cares  nothing  for  the  cold. 
On    cold    morninETS    when    all    other    birds    sit 


that  is,  bends  his  knees  and  drops,  then  stands  up 
straight  again,     lie  hjoks  \er)-  droll. 

Dr.  Alerriam  tells  a  storv  which  shows  how 
fond  the  Dipper  is  of  water,  especially  of  a 
sprinkle,  and  explains  why  he  always  chooses  to 
li\'e  hv  a  waterfall.  The  Doctor  was  camping  out 
on  the  bank  of  a  stream  where  one  of  these  birds 
li\ed.  and  one  moi'ning  he  threw  some  water  out 
of  a  cup.  Instanth-  the  bird  flew  into  the  little 
shower  as  if  he  liked  it.  To  see  if  he  really 
wanted  to  get  into  the  water,  the  Doctor  threw 
out  some  more,  .\gain  the  liird  flew  into  it,  and 
as  long  as  he  would  throw  out  water,  the  Ouzel 
would  dash  in   for  his  sprinkle. 

Olive  Tiiorni-:  Miller. 


174 


BIRDS   OF    AMERICA 


MIMIC  THRUSHES 

Order  Passcrcs:  suborder  Osciiics;  family  Mtmidce 

|HIS  exclusively  American  grouj),  in  habits  and  general  appearance  resembling 
the  true  Thrushes  and  Wrens,  are  all  songsters  of  greater  or  less  merit.  Many 
of  them  are  preeminent  as  vocalists,  while  some  of  the  genus  Mhnus  are  the 
most  brilliant  and  remarkable  vocalists  of  all  birds.  This  applies  especially 
to  the  Mockingbirds,  though  several  of  the  Thrashers  are  singers  of  only  a 
little  less  versatility  and  charm. 

Speaking  generally,  the  members  of  the  family  have  slender  bills,  exceed- 
ingly variable  in  shape  and  relative  length,  sometimes  only  half  as  long, 
sometimes  longer,  than  the  head;  usually  slightly  decurved  terminally,  some- 
times conspicuously  so;  often  straight  or  very  nearly  so.  The  wing  is  variable 
as  to  relative  length,  but  is  always  more  or  less  rounded,  and  the  tail  is  also 
variable,  but  is  never  distinctly  shorter  than  the  distance  from  the  bend  of  the  wing  to  the 
tip  of  the  longest  secondaries;  usually  about  as  long  as  the  wing  or  sometimes  much  longer, 
always  more  or  less  rounded. 

This  family  is  now  considered  scientifically  distinct  from  both  the  Wrens  and  the  true 
Thrushes.  The  Mockingbirds  seem  to  be  most  nearly  related  to  the  Thrushes  and  evidently 
occupy  an  intermediate  place  between  them  and  the  Wrens.  Externally  the  Mockingbirds 
differ  from  the  Thrushes  in  their  shorter,  more  rounded  wings,  and  in  various  anatomical 
details.  The  family  is  most  numerously  represented,  both  as  to  genera  and  species,  in 
Mexico.  Only  two  of  the  fourteen  genera  occur  in  South  America,  which  has  but  one  genus 
not  found  elsewhere.  Altogether  about  fifty  species  and  sub-species  and  fourteen  genera 
are  found. 

In  coloration  the  Thrashers  have  the  upper  parts  plain  rufous,  brown,  or  gray,  with 
or  without  whitish  wing  bands;  under  parts  buff,  whitish,  pale  brownish,  or  pale  grayish, 
with  or  without  darker  streaks  or  spots;  the  lateral  tail-feathers  with  or  without  white  or 
whitish  tips.  They  build  nests  open  above,  composed  of  twigs  and  the  like,  lined  with 
fine  rootlets  or  similar  materials,  placed  in  dense  (often  thorny)  shrubs,  small  trees,  or 
vine-growths,  sometimes  in  brush  piles  or  on  ground.  The  eggs  (from  3  to  5)  are  usually 
speckled,  sometimes  plain  light  greenish-blue. 

The  Mockingbirds  are  gray  or  grayish-brown  above,  with  or  without  darker  streaks, 
the  wings  with  two  whitish  or  pale  grayish  bands  and  whitish  or  pale  grayish  edgings,  the 
lateral  tail-feathers  with  more  or  less  white;  under  parts  dull  whitish,  with  or  without  streaks 
on  flanks.  The  young  have  the  breast  conspicuously  speckled  or  spotted  with  dusky. 
As  far  as  is  known  the  nest  of  the  Mockingbird  is  open  above,  rather  bulky,  and  is 
placed  in  dense  shrubs,  small  trees,  or  thick  vine-growth.  The  eggs  (from  3  to  5)  are  pale 
greenish  or  whitish,  speckled  or  spotted  with  brown. 


SAGE  THRASHER 
Oreoscoptes  montanus   ( J .  K .  Townscnd) 

\     (>     r,    Numlier   yoj 


Other   Name. —  Sage  Thrush. 

General  Description. —  Leiigtli.  cS  inches.  Upper 
parts,  grayish-brown ;  under  parts,  buffy-whito.  with 
dark  streaks.  Bill,  much  shorter  than  head  and 
slender;  wings,  long  and  pointed;  tail,  shorter  than 
wing,   slightly   rounded. 

Color. — Above,  light  grayish-brown,  with  very  indis- 


tinct streaks ;  wings  and  tail,  darker  grayish-brown, 
with  pale  grayish-brown  edgings ;  middle  and  greater 
wing-coverts,  narrowly  tipped  with  dull  white,  produc- 
ing two  narrow  bands ;  outermost  primaries,  narrowly 
edged  with  white;  inner  webs  of  three  or  four  outcr- 
iiinst  tail-fcatlwrs  tipped  ivith  U'hili\  this  about  three- 
fourths  of  an  inch  in  extent  on  lateral  feathers,  greatly 


Plate  loi 


MOCKINGBIRD     Uiiiiux  linlu.ilnl  lii.-i  j)',l!i,it„tfiis    ( I.ilHlfliMls  I 

BROWN  THRASHER     Tii.roxtuiiKl  lulum  (LiunacUS) 
CATBIRD     Jiiinutrlld  ciirolinriisi':  i  I.iiniMiMis  i 

Ail    'i    iiat.  size 


MLMIC    THRUvSHES 


/o 


decreasing  in  extent  toward  middle  leathers  ;  an  indis- 
tinct line  of  dull  whitish  over  eye;  lores,  light  grayish; 
speck  below  the  eyes  and  the  sides  of  head,  light 
grayish-brown,  narrowly  streaked  with  dtiU  whitish; 
cheeks  and  under  parts,  dull  buffy-white  passing  into 
pale  cinnamon-bufT  on  flanks,  anal  region,  and  under 
tail-cuverts ;  throat,  bordered  along  each  side  by  a 
narrow  stripe,  or  series  of  streaks  of  dusky  or  black; 
lower  throat,  with  sparse  wedge-shaped  small  spots  or 
streaks  of  dusky  ;  chest,  breast,  sides,  and  flanks  con- 
spicuously streaked  with  dark  grayish-brown  or  sooty, 
the  markings  on  chest  in  forin  of  wedge-shaped  spots 
rather  than  streaks ;  under  wing-coverts,  pale  grayish- 
buff;  bill,  dusky;  iris,  lemon-yellow. 

Nest  and   Eggs. —  Xest  :      In  low  bushes,  especially 


sage  and  cactus,  from  one  to  three  feet  above  ground  ; 
rough,  bulky  structure  of  coarse  plant  stems,  dry  sage 
bark,  coarse  grasses,  and  twigs,  lined  with  line  stems 
and  rootlets.  E<;gs  :  3  to  5.  with  a  .ground  color  of 
rich  greenish-blue  spotted  with  bright  reddish-brown 
and  a  few  lead-colored  spots. 

Distribution. — Arid  plains,  mesas,  and  foothills  of 
western  United  States  ;  breeds  from  the  western  border 
of  the  Great  Plains,  in  western  North  Dakota,  South 
Dakota,  Nebraska,  Kansas,  and  Texas  to  the  eastern 
base  of  the  Sierra  Nevada  and  Cascade  ranges  ;  north 
to  Montana.  Idaho,  and  eastern  British  Columbia ; 
winters  from  southern  California  and  mountains  of 
central  Texas  to  northern  Mexico  and  Cape  San  Lucas, 
casually  to  Guadalupe  Islaml. 


Oil  the  .sagebrush  jilains,  or  the  ragged  desert 
mountains  of  the  West,  the  Sage  Thrasher  makes 
its  home.  It  resembles  nothing  so  much  as  a 
young  undersized  Mockingbird.  But  for  its 
spotted  breast  one  might  easily  mistake  it  for 
this  famous  and  better  known  songster.  In  the 
early  spring,  when  the  snows  on  the  distant 
mountains  are  beginning  to  melt  and  the  long 
wary  ranks  of  wildfowl  are  passing  northward 
overhead,  the  song  of  this  Thrasher  rings  far 
and  wide  over  the  sandy  wastes.  Une  seldom 
sees  it  far  from  the  ground.  I'erched  on  a  sage- 
bush  or  a  thorny  cactus  it  sings  and  calls  and 
keeps  a  lookout  for  mate  or  rival.  More  fre- 
quently, perhaps,  it  is  found  on  the  ground,  run- 
ning about  among  the  clumps  of  bushes.  It  seems 
to  be  ecjually  at  hoiue  about  ranches  or  far  out 
on  the  uninhabited  deserts.  I  have  met  them  on 
the  plains  when,  far  as  the  eye  could  reach, 
there  was  no  sign  of  human  habitation,  and  again 
have  watched  them  running  about  the  streets  of 
an  adobe  Indian  village,  pausing  at  intervals  to 
raise  their  wings  playfully,  glance  around,  and 


then  resume  their  travels.  The  substantial  nests 
of  sticks,  twigs,  and  grasses  are  usually  placed 
in  bushes  near  the  ground.  The  Sage  Thrasher 
appears  to  be  confined  very  largely  to  the  open 
countries  of  the  far  West. 

T.  Gilbert  Pe.\rso.\. 


Drawing  by  R-  I.  Brasher 

SAGE  THRASHER  I  i  nat.  sh 
A  fine  daylight  and  moonlight  singer  of  the 


MOCKINGBIRD 
Mimus  polyglottos  polyglottos   (  fJiiiucus) 

A     I),    f.    Xumlii-r   703        See   Color    Plate    101 


Other  Names.—  Mock  P.ird ;  Mocking  Thrush ; 
Mimic  Thrush  ;  Mocker. 

General  Description. —  Length,  to  inches.  Upper 
parts,  brownish-.gray ;  under  parts,  white  and  .gray. 
Bill,  shorter  than  liead  ;  wings,  long  and  rounded  ;  tail, 
longer  than  wing,  rounded,  the  feathers  moderately 
broad  with  rounded  tips. 

Color. — Above,  p]am  brownish-gray :  wings  and  tail, 
dull  blackish-slate  with  pale  slate-gray  edgings,  these 
broadest   on    secondaries    (especially   the   terminal   por- 

VoL.  III.  — 13 


tion.  where  sometimes  inclining  to  white)  ;  middle  and 
greater  wing-coverts,  narrowly  tipped  with  dull  white  or 
grayish-white,  forming  two  narrow  bands  ( these  indis- 
tinct in  worn  plumage)  ;  primary  coverts,  white,  usually 
with  a  subterminal  spot  or  streak  of  dusky:  base  of 
Iirimaries,  white,  this  most  extended  on  the  two  inner- 
most, where  occupying  at  least  basal  half  of  both  webs, 
often  much  more,  that  on  the  longer  tiuills  sometimes 
entirely  concealed  by  overlying  primary  coverts ;  outer- 
most   tail-feather,    white,    sometitnes    with    a    trace    of 


1/6 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


dusky  or  grayish  on  outer  web ;  second,  with  outer  web 
mostly  blackish,  the  inner  web  mostly  white ;  third, 
blackish  or  dusky,  with  about  half  of  the  terminal  and 
basal  portions  white ;  a  very  indistinct  stripe  over  eye 
of  pale  gray;  eyelids,  grayish-white;  lores,  dusky; 
sides  of  head,  grayish,  indistinctly  streaked  witli 
whitish ;  space  below  the  eyes  and  cheeks,  dull  white, 
usually  faintly  barred  or  transversely  flecked  with 
grayish  or  dusky ;  chin  and  throat,  dull  white,  margined 
along  each  side  by  a  dusky  streak ;  chest  and  sides  of 
breast,  pale  smoke-gray,  passing  into  a  more  buffy  hue 
on  sides  and  flanks,  the  under  tai!-coverts,  pale  buff ; 
abdomen  and  center  of  breast,  white  ;  bill,  black. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest:  Composed  of  twigs, 
grasses  and  weeds,  lined  with  fine  rootlets,  moss,  and 
sometimes   cotton :   placed    in    many   different   locations 


but  usually  in  a  deep  bramble  thicket,  or  hedge;  as  a 
rule  they  are  located  within  ten  feet  of  the  ground, 
never  on  it,  and  have  been  seen  built  fifty  feet  above 
the  earth.  Egc.s  :  4  to  6,  bluish-green  heavily  freckled 
with  several  shades  of  brown. 

Distribution. —  liastern  United  States ;  northward, 
regularly  (but  locally),  to  Maryland,  southern  Ohio, 
southern  half  of  Indiana  and  Illinois,  Missouri,  etc., 
irregularly  to  Massachusetts,  southeastern  New  York 
(Long  Island,  etc.).  New  Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  northern 
Indiana  and  Illinois,  and  Iowa,  sporadically  to  Maine, 
Ontario,  southern  Wisconsin  (breeding),  and  southern 
Minnesota;  breeding  and  resident  throughout  its  range, 
e-xcept  where  occurring  accidentally ;  southward  to 
southern  Florida  and  along  the  Gulf  to  eastern  Texas, 
and  to  the  Baliamas ;  introduced  into  Bermuda   (1893). 


The  Mockingbird  stands  unrivaled.  He  is  the 
king  of  song.  This  is  a  trite  saying,  but  how- 
much  it  really  means  can  be  known  only  to  those 


where,  apparently,  he  listened  and  took  mental 
notes  of  the  performance,  giving  the  next  day, 
a  week  later,  or  at  midnight  an  entertainment  of 


Drawing  by  R.  I.  Brasher 

MOCKINGBIRD  (J  nat.  size" 
In  improvization  or  mimicry,  the  most  versatile  and  brilliant  of  Amerii 


who  have  heard  this  most  gifted  singer  uncaged 
and  at  his  best  in  the  lowlands  of  the  Southern 
.States.  He  equals  and  even  excels  the  whole 
feathered  choir.  He  improves  upon  most  of  the 
notes  that  he  reproduces,  adding  also  to  his  varied 
repertoire  the  crowing  of  chanticleer,  the  cack- 
ling of  the  hen,  the  barking  of  the  house  dog, 
the  squeaking  of  the  unoiled  wheelbarrow,  the 
postman's  whistle,  the  plaints  of  young  chickens 
and  turkeys  and  those  of  young  wild  birds,  not 
neglecting  to  mimic  those  of  his  own  offspring. 
He  even  imitates  man's  musical  inventions.  Eliza- 
beth and  Joseph  Grinnell  assert  that  a  Mocking- 
bird was  attracted  to  a  graphophone  on  the  lawn 


his  own  and  then  repeating  it  w'ith  the  exact 
graphophone  ring.  Even  the  notes  of  the  piano 
have  been  reproduced  in  some  cases  and  the  bird's 
vocalization  simulates  the  lightning  changes  of 
the  kaleidoscope. 

The  Mocker  is  more  or  less  a  buffoon,  but 
those  who  look  upon  him  only  as  an  imitator 
or  clown  have  much  to  learn  of  his  wonderful 
originality.  His  own  song  is  heard  at  its  best 
at  the  height  of  the  love  season,  when  the  singer 
flutters  into  the  air  from  some  tall  tree-top 
and  improvises  his  music,  pouring  out  all  the 
power  and  energy  of  his  being  in  such  an  ecstasy 
of  song  that,  exhausting  his  strength  in  the  su- 


MIMIC    THRUSHES 


prome  effort,  he  slowly  floats  on  quivering,  beat- 
iiia;  pinions  down  through  the  bloom-covered 
branches  until,  his  fervor  spent,  he  sinks  to  the 
^jround  below.  His  expanded  wings  and  tail 
flashing  with  white  in  the  sunlight  and  the  buoy- 
ancy of  his  action  appeal  to  the  eye  as  his  music 
captivates  the  ear.  On  moonlit  nights  at  this 
season  the  inspired  singer  launches  himself  far 
into  the  air,  filling  the  silvery  spaces  of  the  night 
with  the  exquisite  swells  and  trills,  liquid  and 
sweet,  of  his  imparalleled  melody.  The  song 
rises  and  falls  as  the  powers  of  the  singer  wax 
and  wane,  and  so  he  serenades  his  mate  through- 
out the  live-long  night.  One  such  singer  wins 
others  to  emulation  and,  as  the  chorus  grow;, 
little  birds  of  the  field  and  orchard  wake  just 
enough  to  join  briefly  in  the  swelling  tide  of 
avian  melody. 

The  Mockingbird  seldom  holds  himself  aloof 
from  mankind,  but  often  makes  himself  at  home 
in  the  door-yard,  sits  on  the  chimnev  top  and. 
like  the  Robin  in  the  North.  "  knows  all  the 
folks."  The  negroes  close  the  shutters  of  their 
cabins  at  night,  but  they  say  that  the  Mocker 
"  sings  down  the  chimney."  Often  the  nest  is 
placed  in  shrub  or  hedge  close  by  the  house,  and 
as  soon  as  the  young  are  hatched  the  parents 
take  pains  to  proclaim  their  whereabouts  that 
all  may  know.  Therefore,  the  young,  which  are 
in  demand  as  cage  birds,  frequently  are  taken 
and  sold  into  captivity. 

The  Mockingbird  has  many  traits  that  endear 
it  to  all.    It  is  brave  and  devoted,  attacking  birds 


twice  its  size,  dogs,  cats,  and  even  man  himself 
in  defense  of  its  young.  Its  cries  of  alarm  give 
warning  to  all  other  birds  nearby.  When  kindlv 
treated  it  may  even  come  in  at  the  door  or 
window.  Thus  it  has  won  for  itself  a  high  place 
in  the  regard  and  affection  of  the  Southern 
people.  Edward  Howe  Forrusii. 


Photo  by  J.  U.  FieW 

NEST  OF  MOCKINGBIRD 
Often  it  is  placed  in  shrub  or  hedge  near  the  house 


it 


The  Western  ^lockingbird  (  Miiiiiis  polyglottos 
Icncopteriis)  is  just  a  paler,  larger,  and  more 
bufify  edition  of  its  eastern  congener.  Through- 
out its  range  through  southwestern  United  States 
and  northern  Mexico  it  exhibits  the  same  traits 
that  have  won  for  the  species  a  scientific  name 
which  translated  means  "  many-tongued  mimic." 


CATBIRD 
Dumetella  carolinensis  (  LiiiinTus) 


:\     n    I'.    Number  70J 

Other  Names. —  Chicken  Birrl  ;  Cat  Flycatcher; 
Slate-colored  Mockingbird;  Black-capped  ThrlI^h. 

General  Description. —  Length,  8^4  inchc;.  Pluin- 
age.  slate-gray  with  black  on  crown,  wings,  and  tail. 
Bill,  much  shorter  than  head,  nearly  straight  to  near 
tip,  where  gradually  curved  downward ;  wings,  moder- 
ately long  and  rounded ;  tail,  slightly  longer  than  win.g. 
decidedly  rounded,  the  feathers  narrowly  rounded 
terminally. 

Color. —  Crown,  black,  or  slate-black,  the  forehead 
slate-gray,  rear  of  crown  or  nape,  sometimes  more 
sooty ;  tail,  black,  the  feathers  edged  with  slate-gray 
basally ;  wings,  slate-black  with  broad  slate-gray  edg- 
ings (nearly  concealing  the  darker  color)  ;  under  tail- 
covcrts,  chestnut:  rest  of  pluma,ge,  plain  slate-gray,  the 
upper  surface  darker,  or  more  nearly  slate  color :  bill, 
black  ;  iris,  brown. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Xkst  :  Rather  bulky,  made  of  dry 
leaves,   twigs,    roots,   and   grasses,   lined   with    line   root- 


See  Color   PLite   loi 

lets  and  grass  ;  placed  in  bushes,  trees  or  thickets  usu- 
ally within  10  feet  of  tlie  grounrl.  Eor.s :  4  to  6. 
rarely  latter  number,  plain,  deep  bluish-green,  luuch 
darker  colored  than  the  Robin's. 

Distribution. —  Temperate  North  America  in  gen- 
eral, but  wanting  in  most  of  region  south  of  the  Colum- 
bia River  and  west  of  Rocky  Mountains;  north  to 
Nova  Scotia,  southern  Maine,  New  Hampshire,  Ontario, 
Manitoba,  Saskatchewan,  and  British  Coluinbia  ;  west  to 
and  including  Rocky  Mountains,  in  Montana.  Idaho. 
Wyoming,  Colorado.  New  Mexico,  and  Utah,  and  in 
Oregon  and  Washington  to  the  Pacific  coast  (acci- 
dentally to  Farallon  Islands,  California)  ;  breeding 
southward  to  northern  Florida  and  along  Gulf  coast 
to  east-central  Texas ;  winterin.g  from  Southern  States 
(occasionally  Middle  States)  southward  to  Bahamas. 
West  Indies,  and  through  eastern  Mexico  and  Central 
.America  to  Panama;  resident  in  Bermuda:  accidental 
in   Eurojie. 


I7.S 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


There-  is  more  of  the  cat  about  the  Catbird  than 
his  cat-hke  call,  if  birds  may  be  trusted  to  know 
their  enemies  and  to  treat  them  accordingly.  For, 
especially  during  the  nesting  season,  his  feathered 
neighbors  are  often  seen  mobbing  him  with  every 
show  of  anger  and  hatred  ;  and,  what  is  more,  he 
acts  as  if  he  knew  he  deserved  it.  That  is,  when 
he  is  set  upon  by  a  pack  of  Robins,  Sparrows, 
and  Bluebirds,  and  ordered  to  be  gone,  he  goes, 
and  stands  not  on  the  order  of  his  going.  Further- 
more,   besides    his    most    nnbird-like    snarl,    his 


observers.     Then  his  self-consciousness  and  his 
vanity  are  both  apparent  and  amusing. 

As  a  singer,  the  Catbird  may  be  ranked  third 
in  the  remarkably  gifted  Mirnic-Thrush  trio,  of 
which  the  Mockingbird  is  easily  first  and  the 
Brown  Thrasher  a  good  second.  Attentive 
listeners  probably  will  agree  that  there  is  a  funda- 
mental resemblance  between  the  songs  of  these 
birds,  in  that  each  is  a  prolonged  effort,  lacking 
anything  like  definite  construction  or  consistent 
rhythm  —  a    mere    jumble    of    notes,    varying 


Ccjurlesy  of  Am.  Mus.  Nat.  Hist. 
CATBIRD  (J  nat.  size) 
He  is  a  distinct  personality  in  bird  land 


manners  are  often  distinctly  feline,  and  liis  habit 
of  slinking  through  the  bushes  in  which  small 
birds  have  nests  is  decidedly  suspicious.  In  short, 
he  is  accused  of  being  a  nest-robber,  and  it 
seems  more  than  likely  that  the  charge  can  be 
substantiated.  Mr.  Burroughs,  indeed,  says  he 
has  "  seen  him  do  it." 

All  this  is  a  great  pity,  for  the  Catbird  is  a 
distinct  personality  in  bird  land,  and  withal  an 
interesting,  if  a  somewhat  pert  one.  He  seems 
to  be  very  well  aware  that  he  is  an  accomplished 
and  versatile  vocalist ;  in  fact,  no  American  bird 
displays  more  plainly  a  desire  to  "  show  oflf." 
Witness  his  posing  and  attitudinizing  when  he  es- 
tablishes himself  atop  a  bush,  where  he 
apparently    desires    to    be    the    observed    of    all 


greatly  in  volume  as  well  as  tonal  character,  and 
many  of  them  either  actually  imitative,  or  at 
least  reminiscent  of  the  calls  or  parts  of  the 
songs  of  other  birds. 

The  Catbird  is  given  third  rank  in  this  trio  be- 
cause his  song  is  likely  to  include  harsh  notes  of 
various  kinds  —  some  of  them  imitative  — 
whereas  the  percentage  of  such  tones  is  negligible 
or  altogether  absent  from  the  characteristic  songs 
of  the  Thrasher  and  the  Mocker.  Somebody 
has  said  that  the  Catbird  "  sings  Chinese,"  which 
is  rather  clever,  since  there  is  a  certain  resem- 
blance between  his  erratic  potpourri  and  the 
queer  half -musical,  half -guttural  ups  and  downs 
of  the  Celestial's  speech.  Despite  the  foregoing 
comparisons  and  comments  the  Catbird's  song  is 


MIMIC   THRUSHES 


179 


not  ail  unmusical  or  infL'rior  pertorniance.  On 
the  contrary,  it  is  undoubtedly  one  of  the  most 
interesting  of  bird  utterances,  and  usually  con- 
tains many  melodious  phrases  as  well  as  piquant 
musical  flourishes.  In  it  one  may  hear  repro- 
duced the  characteristic  tones  of  the  tlute.  iiiccolo, 
and  clarionet,  as  well  as  the  violin  and  even  the 
higher  tones  of  the  cello.  Other  birds'  notes,  or 
fragments  of  their  songs,  which  are  more  or  less 
perfectly  reproduced  are  those  of  the  \\'ood 
Thrush,  the  Robin,  the  Song  Sparrow,  the  House 
\\'ren,  the  Oriole,  and  even  the  Whip-poor-will. 
\\'ith  these,  as  Mr.  Mathews  says,  "the  yowl  of 
the  cat  is  thrown  in  any  where,  the  guttural  re- 
marks of  the  frog  are  repeated  without  the 
slightest  deference  to  good  taste  or  appropriate- 
ness, and  the  harsh  squawk  of  the  old  hen,  or  the 
chirp  of  the  lost  chicken,  is  always  added  in  some 
malapropos  manner.  .Ml  is  grist  which  cnmes 
to  the  Catbird's  musical  mill,  and  all  is  groun<l 
out  according  to  the  bird's  own  wav  of  think- 
ing." 

Reports  from  the  Mississippi  vallev  indicate 
that  the  Catbird  is  sometimes  a  serious  annov- 
ance  to  fruit  growers.  Tlie  reason  for  such  re- 
ports may  possibly  be  found  in  the  fact  that  on 
the  prairies  fruit-bearing  shrubs,  which  afford  so 
large  a  part  of  this  bird's  food,  are  conspicuouslv 
absent.  With  the  settlement  of  this  region  came 
an  extensive  planting  of  orchards,  vineyards,  and 
small  fruit  gardens,  which  furnish  shelter  and 
nesting  sites  for  the  Catbird  as  well  as  for  other 
species.  There  is  in  consequence  a  large  increase 
in  the  numbers  of  the  birds,  but  no  corresponding 
gain  in  the  supply  of  native  fruits  upon  which 
they  were  accustomed  to  feed.  Under  these 
circumstances  what  is  more  natural  than  for  the 
birds  to  turn  to  cultivated  fruits  for  their  food  ? 
The  remedy  is  obvious:  cultivated  fruits  can  be 
protected  by  the  simple  expedient  of  planting 
the  wild  species  which  are  preferred  by  the  birds. 
Some  experiments  with  Catbirds  in  captivitv 
show  that  the  Russian  mulberrv  is  preferred  to 
any  cultivated  fruit. 


The  stomachs  of  645  Catbirds  were  examined 
and  found  to  contain  44  per  cent,  of  animal 
(insect J  and  56  per  cent,  of  vegetable  food. 
.\nts,  beetles,  caterpillars,  and  grasshoppers  con- 
stitute three-fourths  of  the  animal'  food,  the  re- 
mainder being  made  up  of  bugs,  miscellaneous 
insects,  and  spiders.  One-third  of  the  vegetable 
food  consists  of  cultivated  fruits  or  those  which 
may  be  cultivated,  as  strawberries,  raspberries, 
and   black-berries :  but   while   we   dcliit   the   bird 


Photu  by  R.  I.  BrasliLT 

NEST  AND  EGGS  OF  CATBIRD 

with  the  whole  of  this,  it  is  probable  —  and  in 
the  eastern  and  well-wooded  jiart  of  the  country 
almost  certain  —  that  a  large  part  is  obtained 
from  wild  vines.  The  rest  of  the  vegetable 
matter  is  mostly  wild  fruit,  as  cherries,  dogwood, 
sour  gum,  elderberries,  greenbrier,  spiceberries, 
black  alder,  sumac  and  poison  ivy.  Although  the 
Catbird  sometimes  does  considerable  harm  bv 
destroying  small  fnu't,  it  cannot  on  the  whole  be 
considered  injurious.  On  the  contrary,  in  most 
parts  of  the  country  it  does  far  more  good  than 
harm. 


BROWN  THRASHER 
Toxostoma  rufum   (Lijiiunis) 

A.    n.   U.    Number  705       See  Color  Tlate   10 


Other  Names.— Thrasher ;  Brown  Thrush;  Red 
Thru.sh  ;  Fox-colored  Thrush  ;  Sandy  Mocker  ;  Sandy 
Mockingbird;  French  Mockingbird;  Brown  Mocker; 
Brown  Mockingbird;  Ground  Thrush;  Mavis;  Red 
Mavis ;  Song  Thrush. 


General  Description. —  Length,  11  inches.  Upper 
parts,  brown ;  under  parts,  buffy,  streaked  with  dark. 
Bill,  about  length  of  head,  curved  downward  at  the 
end ;  wings,  rather  short  and  rounded  ;  tail,  decidedly 
longer  than  win,g  and  rounded. 


i8o 


BIRDS    OF    AMERICA 


Co\or.—.lbove,  plain  dull  ciiinainon-rufous,  becoming 
paler  over  eye  and  on  notched  terninial  portion  of 
outer  webs  of  primaries;  iniddle  and  greater  wing- 
coverts  tipped  with  white  (spring  and  summer)  or  pale 
bufif  (autumn  and  winter),  producing  two  distinct 
bands  across  wing,  each  white  or  bufTy  band  immedi- 
ately preceded  by  a  narrower  and  less  distinct  one  of 
dusky;  outermost  tail-feathers  indistinctly  tipped  with 
buflf  (worn  away  in  summer  plumage)  ;  sides  of  head, 
light  rusty-brown,  narrowly  streaked  with  dull  whitish  ; 
cheeks,  dull  white,  usually  flecked  with  brown  or  dusky, 
especially  on  rear  portion ;  under  parts,  pale  buff, 
approaching  buffy-white  on  chin,  throat,  and  abdomen 
(entirely  buff  in  fresh  autumnal  and  early  winter 
plumage),  the  chest,  sides,  and  flanks  broadly  streaked 
with  brown  or  dusky,  the  streaks  smaller  and  narrowly 
wedge-shaped  on  upper  chest,  broader  on  sides  of 
breast,  longer  flanks ;  throat  margined  along  each  side 
by  a  series  of  blackish  streaks,  forming  a  stripe;  bill, 
dusky ;  iris,  bright  lemon  or  sulphur-yellow. 


Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest:  In  clusters  of  thorny 
vines,  within  a  few  feet  of  the  ground,  sometimes  on 
it,  occasionally  in  trees,  seldom  in  open  situations,  out- 
of-the-way,  quiet  localities  being  preferred;  a  rather 
flat,  loosely  constructed  structure  exteriorly  composed 
of  twigs,  rootlets,  leaves,  hair,  together  with  some 
feathers.  Eciis :  3  to  5,  varying  from  pale  greenish- 
white  to  pale  buff,  profusely  speckled  with  minute 
spots  of  reddish-brown,  evenly  over  entire  surface, 
more  rarely   forming  a  wreath  around  larger  end. 

Distribution. —  Eastern  United  States  and  south- 
eastern Canada;  northward  to  southern  Maine,  Ver- 
mont, New  York,  northern  Ontario,  Manitoba  and 
Saskatchewan  ;  breeding  southward  to  northern  Florida, 
Alabama,  Mississippi,  and  eastern  Texas,  westward  to 
base  of  Rocky  Mountains  in  Montana,  Wyoming,  and 
Colorado ;  wintering  from  North  Carolina,  southeastern 
Missouri,  etc.  (more  rarely  farther  northward)  to 
southern  Florida  and  south-central  Texas ;  accidental 
in  Arizona  and  Europe. 


The  term  "  thrush,"  which  is  frequently  ap- 
plied to  this  bird,  is  another  of  the  many  inis- 
nomers  in  popular  ornithological  terminology, 
as  the  bird  is  not  a  "  thrush  "  at  all,  but  a  mem- 
ber of  a  totally  different  family,  called  Munldcr. 
In  point  of  fact,  about  the  only  resemblance  be- 
tween the  Thrashers  and  other  birds  commonly 
called  Thrushes  is  that  all  show  more  or  less 
brown  in  their  plutnage  and  have  speckled  breasts. 
Right  there  the  outward  similarity  may  be  said 
to  end ;  for  certainly  in  their  general  form  and 
size  (not  to  mention  their  habits)  there  is  a 
wide  difference  between  the  smaller  Thrushes, 
with  their  comparatively  short  tails  and  small, 


plump    bodies,    and    the    long-tailed,    long-billed 
and  relatively  slender  Thrashers. 

The  term  "  Thrasher  "  probably  is  due  to  the 
bird's  vigorous  twitching  about  of  his  long  tail, 
a  performance  which  is  characteristic  especially 
when  he  is  nervous  or  angry,  and  with  which  he  is 
likely  to  emphasize  certain  notes  of  his  song. 
The  movement  is  also  suggestive  —  to  a  suffici- 
ently fertile  imagination  —  of  the  flail  in  the 
primitive  method  of  thrashing  grain.  Another 
explanation  —  humorous,  of  course  —  comes 
from  Mr.  Job,  who  says:  "I  used  to  wonder 
whv  the  bird  was  called  a  Thrasher.  But  after 
I  had  actually  received  a  real  thrashing  from  a 


Drawing  by  R.  I  .Brasher 

BROWN  THRASHER  ( S  nat.  size) 
A  gifted  singer  and  a  brave  defender  of  his  home 


All  MIC    THRUSHES 


i8i 


pair  of  tht'in,  1  thought  1  had  some  hght  on  the 
subject."  And  he  then  proceeds  to  describe  the 
courage  displayed  by  this  pair  in  their  desjierate 
attacks  upon  him  while  he  was  photographing 
their  nest  and  young.  This  is  a  strongly  marked 
characteristic  of  the  bird,  and  must  excite  the 
admiration  of  every  one  who  has  seen  it  ex- 
])ressed:  for  the  male  bird,  especially,  is  (}ften 
positively  heroic  in  his  persistent  efTorts  to  pro- 
tect his  familv.  Indeed,  it  behooves  the  intruder 
under  such  conditions  to  guard  his  head  care- 
fully, for  the  infuriated  bird  will  often  dash 
directly  at  one's  face,  and  a  single  stroke  from 
that  long,  curved  bill,  if  fairly  delivered,  un- 
doubtedlv  would  destroy  the  sight  of  an  eye. 

The  song  of  this  Thrasher  is  fairly  one  of 
the  most  musical  and  delightful  of  American  bird 
utterances.  In  its  structure  —  or  rather,  the  lack 
of  any  definite  structure  —  it  suggests  the  Cat- 
bird's, though  it  includes  almost  none  of  the 
liarsh  or  nasal  notes  which  often  mar  that 
singer's  effort.  Most  of  the  tones  composing  the 
song  are  like  those  of  tlie  flute  or  the  piccolo, 
though  the  violin  and  the  clarionet  are  also  rep- 
resented. The  spirit,  also,  of  the  two  utter- 
ances differs  in  that  the  Catbird's  is  likely  to 
include  little  phrases  which  are  sotto  7'occ  in 
quality,  and  in  the  manner  of  their  delivery,  as 
if  the  singer  were  addressing  them  in  a  personal 
way  to  a  single  listener ;  whereas  the  Thrasher's 
aria,  delivered  usually  from  a  conspicuous  perch 
at  the  top  of  a  tree  or  bush  ( and  most  frequently 
in  the  morning  or  the  evening ) ,  seems  to  be 
addressed  to  all  the  world  within  hearmg. 

Browning,  of  course,  had  a  different  bird  in 
mind,  yet  he  might  well  have  been  thinking  of 
our  Thrasher's  pretty  trick  of  repeating  a 
phrase,  when  he  wrote,  in  his  beautiful  poem, 
"  Home  Thoughts  from  Abroad  " — 

That's  the  wise  Thrush ;  he  sings  his  song  twice  over 

Lest  you  sliould  think  he  never  could  recapture 

That  hrst  fine  careless  rapture. 

Of  the  Thrasher's  impassioned  manner  when 
the  frenzy  is  upon  him,  we  have  this  fine  picture 
from  Mr.  Cheney  ;  "  As  the  fervor  increases  his 
long  and  elegant  tail  droops ;  all  his  feathers 
separate;  his  whole  plumage  lifted,  it  floats, 
trembles;  his  head  is  raised  and  his  bill  is  wide 
open ;  there  is  no  mistake ;  it  is  the  power  of 
the  god.  No  pen  can  report  him  now  ;  we  must 
wait  until  the  frenzy  j)asses."  And  now  he 
reminds  one  of  Emma  Juch,  when  she  would 
throw  back  her  head  and  pour  her  whole   soul 

*  Harporhynchus  rufus  was  the  scientifi 


into  the  nuisical  setting  of  Heinrich  Heine's  jier- 
fect  poem,  "  Du  bist  zcic  cine  bliime," 

The  lighter  and  more  rollicking  significance  of 
the  song  is  cleverly  suggested  by  the  following 
lines  in  Mrs.  Wright's  book,  Citicen  Bird,  and 
attributed  to  "  Olive  "  : 

My  creamy  breast   is  speckled 
(Perhaps  you'd  call  it   freckled) 
Black  and  brown. 

My  pliant  russet  tail 
Beats  like  a   frantic  flail, 
Up   and   down. 

In  tlie  top  branch  of  a  tree 

Vou  may  chance  to  glance  at  me. 

When   I   sing. 

But  I'm  very,  very  shy, 
When  I  silently  float  by, 
On  the  wing. 

Whew  there!  Hi  there!  Such  a  clatter. 
What's  the  matter  —  what's  the  matter? 
Really,  really  ? 

Digging,   delving,   raknig,  sowing. 
Corn  IS  sprouting,  corn  is  growing. 

Plant  it,  plant  it! 

Gather  it,  gather  it ! 

Thresh  it,  thresh  it! 

Hide  it,  hide  it,  do! 

(I  see  it  —  and  you.) 
Oh  I     I'm  that  famous  scratcher, 
H-a-r-p-o-r-h-y-n-c-h-u-s     r-u-f-u-s  — 

Thrasher' 
Cloaked  in  brown." 

Georce  Gladden. 

The  food  of  the  Brown  Thrasher  consists  of 
both  fruit  and  insects.  An  examination  of  636 
Stomachs  showed  36  per  cent,  of  vegetable  and 
64  of  animal  food,  practically  all  insects,  and 
mostly  taken  in  spring  before  fruit  was  ripe. 
Half  the  insects  were  beetles  and  the  remainder 
chiefly  grasshoppers,  caterj)illars,  bugs,  and 
spiders.  A  few  predacious  beetles  were  eaten, 
but  on  the  whole  the  work  of  the  species  as  an 
insect  destroyer  may  be  considered  beneficial. 
Eight  per  cent,  of  its  food  is  made  up  of  fruits 
like  raspberries  and  currants  which  are  or  may 
be  cultivated,  but  the  raspberries  at  least  are  as 
likely  to  belong  to  wild  as  to  cultivated  varieties. 
Grain,  made  up  mostly  of  scattered  kernels  of 
oats  and  corn,  is  merely  a  trifle,  amounting  to 
only  3  per  cent.  Though  some  of  the  corn  may 
be  taken  from  newly  planted  fields,  it  is  amply 
paid  for  by  the  destruction  of  May  beetles  which 
are  eaten  at  the  same  time.  The  rest  of  the 
food  consists  of  wild  fruit  or  seeds.     Taken  ail 


before   the  adoption  of  the  present  one  by  the  An 


I  Ornithologists'  Unif 


BIRDS   OF    AMERICA 


in  all,  the  Brown  Thrasher  is  a  useful  bird,  and 
probably    does    as    good    work    in    its    secluded 


'.  iv.  joD  (^^ouriesy  of  Outing  Pub.  Co 

MALE  BROWN  THRASHER 
Shielding  young  from  the  hot  sun 


retreats  as  it  would  about  the  garden,  for  the 
swamps  and  groves  are  no  doubt  the  breeding 
grounds  of  many  insects  that  migrate  thence  to 
attack  the  crops  of  the  farmer. 

Sennett's  Thrasher  ( Toxostorna  longirostre 
sennctti)  is  similar  to  the  Brown  Thrasher,  but 
larger,  with  the  brown  of  the  upper  parts  less  red 
and  more  golden  and  the  under  parts  whiter.  It 
is  a  bird  of  northeastern  Mexico,  the  Rio  Grande 
valley,  and  the  Gulf  coast  district  of  Texas.  In 
the  same  part  of  the  United  States,  but  dis- 
tributed over  more  territory  in  Mexico,  is  the 
Curve-billed  Thrasher  {Toxostorna  curvirostrc 
ciirvirostrc).  His  upper  parts  are  plain  brown- 
ish gray  (clay-color),  tail,  blackish  with  four 
feathers  on  each  side  abruptly  tipped  with  white  ; 
his  under  parts  are  buffy-white,  deepening  into 
pale  brownish-buff  on  the  flanks  and  lower 
regions  and  with  the  chest,  breast,  and  upper 
abdomen  spotted  with  pale  brownish-gray. 


BENDIRE'S   THRASHER 

Toxostorna  bendirei   (Coues) 


General  Description. —  Length,  g]%  inches.  Upper 
parts,  grayish-brown ;  under  parts,  buffy-white  with 
streaks  of  dark.  Bill,  about  length  of  head,  curved 
downward  at  the  end  ;  wnigs,  rather  short  and  rounded ; 
tail,  decidedly  longer  than  wing  and  rounded. 

Color. —  Above,  plain  light  yrayish-brozvn,  the  rump 
and  upper  tail-coverts,  paler,  the  wings  and  tail,  slightly 
darker;  middle  and  greater  wing-coverts,  indistinctly 
tipped  with  paler,  and  wing  quills  narrowly  edged  with 
the  same;  inner  web  of  exterior  tail-feathers  rather 
broadly  tipped  with  dull  white,  the  outer  web  much 
more  narrowly  tipped  with  the  same  —  the  remaining 
tail-feathers  (except  middle  pair)  similarly  tipped  witli 
whitish,  but  to  a  less  extent,  gradually  disappearing 
toward  middle  feathers ;  sides  of  head,  similar  in  color 
to  upper  parts  but  paler  over  the  eyes  and  on  lores, 
and  around  the  ears  narrowly  streaked  with  dull  whit- 
ish ;  cheeks  and  under  parts,  dull  buffy-white,  passing 
into  decided  brownish-buff  on  flanks,  anal  region,  and 
lower  tail-coverts;  chest  (sometimes  sides  of  lower 
throat  also)    with   sliarply  defined   small   wedge-shaped 


streaks  of  grayish-brown,  the  breast  more  sparsely 
marked  with  more  roundish  spots  of  a  paler  grayish- 
brown,  the  flanks  sometimes  indistinctly  streaked  with 
the  same;  sides  of  throat,  margined  with  a  series  of 
wedge-shaped  streaks  or  small  spots  of  grayish-brown  ; 
under  wing-coverts,  light  buffy  wood-brown ;  bill, 
dusky  horn-color ;  iris,  yellow. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest:  In  the  desert  trees  and 
bushes,  but  tlie  customary  site  is  in  the  cholla  cactus 
about  three  feet  from  the  ground ;  small  and  daintily 
built  in  contrast  to  the  nests  of  others  of  the  genus; 
composed  exteriorly  of  the  regulation  sticks,  twigs,  and 
grasses  and  lined  with  soft  materials  —  wool,  feathers, 
horsehair,  fine  rootlets,  and  grasses.  Eggs  :  3  or  4, 
generally  greenish-white,  sometimes  grayish  or  pinkish- 
white,  spotted  usually  most  thickly  around  larger  end 
with  reddish-brown,  lavender-gray,  and  drab. 

Distribution. —  Desert  districts  of  Arizona,  and 
southeastern  California  (Colorado  Desert)  and  north- 
ern Mexico;  winters  in  Mexico;  accidental  in  Colo- 
rado. 


While  at  Tucson,  Arizona,  one  of  the  first 
problems  of  identifying  birds  of  the  cacttis  was 
to  distinguish  Bendire's  Thrasher  from  Palmer's 
Thrasher  {Toxostorna  curvirostre  palmcri). 
From  any  manual  of  identification,  you  will  find 
that  the  birds  look  almost  exactly  alike,  except 
Bendire's  Thrasher  is  a  trifle  smaller,  and  its 
bill  is  a  little  shorter  than  that  of  Palmer's.    But, 


with  these  slight  differences,  it  is  practically 
impossible  to  tell  one  bird  from  the  other.  I  soon 
discovered  a  difference,  however,  when  I  began 
examining  the  nests  of  the  two  birds.  Palmer's 
Thrasher  builds  a  large  bulky  nest  and,  about 
Tucson,  it  is  found  almost  entirely  in  the  cholla 
cactus.  The  lower  part  of  the  nest  is  made  of 
rough  sticks  with  a  lining  of  fine  grasses.     The 


MIMIC  THRUSHES 


i«3 


eggs  are  the  size  of  a  Robin's,  with  bkie  back- 
ground imifiirnily  jiepijered  with  brown  dots. 
Of  some  twenty  nests  examined,  all  were 
practically  the  same. 

The  nest  of  the  Bendire's  Thrasher  1  found 
to  be  a  smaller  structure  and  often  lined  with 
horsehair,  string  and  fine  grasses.  The  cup  of 
the  nest  is  distinctly  smaller  than  that  of 
Palmer's.  The  eggs  are  also  smaller.  Thev  have 
a  light  blue  background,  but  are  marked  with 
larger  brown  blotches,  generally  more  around 
the  larger  end.  In  appearance,  the  egg  is  more 
like  that  of  the  Mockingbird  or  Russet-backed 
Thrush. 


\\  bile  Bradford  Torrey  was  at  Tucson,  he 
experienced  considerable  difticullv  in  recog- 
nizing I'almer's  and  Bendire's  in  the  held.  He 
fell  back  on  an  old  method  wliich  he  used  in 
distinguishing  the  Downy  from  the  llairy  W'ood- 
[lecker,  where  the  dress  is  alike,  but  the  size  is 
slightly  different.  It  was  easier  to  carry  in  mind 
the  measurements  of  the  two  birds'  bills  than  the 
comparative  measurements  of  the  two  birds 
themselves.  .So  with  this  point  continually  in 
mind  and  after  spending  considerable  time  in 
the  field,  he  was  able  by  the  aid  of  his  glass  to 
tell  one  bird  from  the  other  almost  beyond 
mistake.  William  L.  Finley. 


CALIFORNIA  THRASHER 

Toxostoma  redivivum  (  (jainbcl) 

A     ly   V.    Number  rio 


General  Description. —  Len.eth,  1 1  ■  j  inches.  Upper 
parts,  grayish-brown ;  under  parts,  buff,  grayish-brown, 
and  cinnamon.  Bill,  about  length  of  head,  curved 
downward  at  the  end:  wings,  rather  short  and  rounded; 
tail,  decidedly  longer  than  wing  and  rounded. 

Color. —  Above,  plain  deep  grayish-brozfii,  the  upper 
tail-coverts  and  tail  more  decidedly  brown  (approach- 
ing sepia)  ;  primaries  narrowly  edged  with  paler  gray- 
ish-brown, and  larger  wing-coverts  usually  margined  at 
tip  with  the  same;  an  indistinct  stripe  over  eye  of  pale 
grayish-buff;  sides  of  head  and  space  below  the  eyes, 
dusky  grayish-brown,  narrowly  but  conspicuously 
streaked  with  dull  buffy-whitish  ;  cheeks,  pale  grayish- 
buff  flecked  with  dusky;  chin  and  throat,  pale  huff, 
margined  along  each  side  by  an  indistinct   (often  obso- 


lete) dusky  streak;  chest,  sides  of  breast,  and  sides, 
pale  grayish-brown,  becoming  browner  on  flanks ; 
center  of  breast  and  upper  abdomen,  pale  buff  becoming 
deeper  cinnamon-buff  on  lower  abdomen  and  passing 
into  cinnamon  on  under  tail-co-i'erts ;  bill,  blackish; 
iris,  brown. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest  :  A  rough,  coarse,  shallow 
platform  of  sticks,  coarse  grasses,  and  moss,  with  slight 
depression  but  always  well  hidden  in  the  low  scrub. 
Eggs:  2  to  4,  usually  3.  light  greenish-blue  with  clove- 
brown,  russet,  or  chestnut  spots. 

Distribution. —  Coast  and  interior  valleys  of  Cali- 
fornia and  northern  Lower  California ;  northward  to 
-Shasta  County,  southward  to  San  Quentin  Bay,  San 
Fernando,  and   San   Pedro   Martir   Mountains. 


vine  by  R.  I.  Brasher 


CALIFORNIA  THRASHER  (J  nat.  sitel 
A  fine  singer,  clever  mimic,  anfl  all  'round  good  fellow 


1 84 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


This  Thrasher  seems  to  have  more  to  say  than 
any  other  member  of  his  notably  loquacious  and 
voluble  family.  "  Perched  on  top  of  the  highest 
bush  in  sight,"  says  Mrs.  Bailey,  "  he  shouts  out 
kick-it-noiv.  kick-it-nozv,  shut-up.  shut-iip,  dor-o- 
tliy,  dor-o-thy,  and  then  with  a  rapid  change  of 
mood,  drawls  out,  'a'lioa-no7<<.  i^'lioa-uo^v'." 

Earlier  ornithologists  did  not  credit  this 
Thrasher  with  any  imitative  faculty,  and  some 
went  so  far  as  to  declare  flatly  that  the  bird 
never  reproduced  any  other  bird's  note.  But 
John  J.  Williams  is  of  another  mind ;  for  he 
identifies  in  the  Thrasher's  medley  the  notes  of 
the  California  Jay,  the  Valley  Quail,  the  Slender- 
billed  Nuthatch,  the  Red-shafted  Flicker,  the 
^^'estern  Robin  and  the  Wren-Tit,  who  is  often 
tricked  into  answering  the  imitation.  The  entire 
performance,  moreover,  suggests  the  utmost  good 
nature,  as  if  the  singer  was  enjoying  intensely 
his  own  efforts. 

His  long,  slender  and  decurved  bill  this  bird 
puts  to  good  use,  for  he  emplovs  it  verv  dexter- 
ously in  clearing  away  leaves  and  loose  grass  in 


order  to  get  at  the  bare  earth,  instead  of  scratch- 
ing with  his  feet,  as  do  the  Sparrows  and  Che- 
winks.  Once  the  earth  is  cleared,  the  Thrasher 
probes  into  it  to  the  full  length  of  his  bill,  after 
the  manner  of  the  Woodcock.  He  is  likely  to 
make  two  or  three  of  these  holes  in  succession, 
and  then  watch  each  one  and  snap  up  any 
insect  which  comes  to  the  surface  through  these 
shafts. 

In  the  defense  of  their  nest  a  pair  of  these 
Thrashers  are  likely  to  act  very  much  as  do  the 
Brown  Thrashers,  of  the  eastern  States.  That 
is,  they  show  the  same  anger  and  boldness  which 
the  eastern  bird  displays,  even  to  the  extent  of 
dashing  up  to  the  intruder  and  striking  at  him 
with  their  bills.  In  fact,  in  these  attacks  the 
western  bird  is  the  more  dangerous  of  the  two. 
because  he  is  more  skillful  in  the  use  of  his 
long  and  almost  needle-pointed  bill,  with  which 
he  could  easily  destroy  the  sight  of  an  eye,  or 
even  inflict  an  ugly  flesh  wound  on  the  face, 
either  or  both  of  which  injuries  the  birds 
undoubtedly  are  entirely  willing  to  inflict. 


LECONTES  THRASHER 
Toxostoma  lecontei  lecontei  Laicrcnce 


A.   O.   U.  Numbe 


General  Description. —  Lengtli,  ii'..  inches.  Upper 
parts,  grayish-brown ;  under  parts,  dull  white  and 
buflfy-grayish.  Bill,  about  length  of  head,  curved  down- 
ward at  the  end ;  wings,  rather  short  and  rounded : 
tail,  decidedly  longer  than  wing  and  rounded. 

Color. —  Above,  plain  pale  grayish-byown,  the  pri- 
maries edged  with  still  paler;  tniddle  tail-feathers, 
slightly  darker  grayish-brown;  other  tail-feathers,  deep 
grayish-brown,  the  e.xterior  ones  broadly  tipped  with 
pale  grayish-brown  ;  sides  of  head,  pale  grayish-brown, 
narrowly  streaked  with  whitish  and  dusky ;  cheeks 
whitish,  transversely  mottled  or  barred  with  dusky ; 
chin,  throat,  breast,  and  upper  abdomen,  dull  white, 
margined  laterally  by  a  streak  of  dusky  below  the 
cheeks :  rest  of  under  parts,  very  pale  buffy-grayish, 
passinii    into    deep    huff    on    hinder    flanks,    anal    reiiion. 


and  under  tail-eoverts.  the  lower  abdomen  and  front 
flanks  tinged  with  buff;  bill,  blackish;  iris,  reddish- 
brown. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest  ;  Usually  built  in  the 
center  of  a  choUa  cactus  or  mesquite  bush  ;  a  remark- 
able, bulky,  loose,  and  deep  affair,  easily  detected  from  a 
considerable  distance;  composed  of  thorny  twigs,  dried 
weeds  and  stems  and  grasses,  lined  with  finer  material 
and  feathers.  Eggs  :  2  to  4,  pale  greenish-blue, 
minutely  but  sparsely  spotted  with  shades  of  reddish  or 
yellowish-brown  and  lavender. 

Distribution. —  Deserts  of  southwestern  Utah  (west 
of  Beaverdam  Mountains),  southern  Nevada  (Vegas. 
Pahrump.  and  Indian  Spring  valleys),  southern  Cali- 
fornia and  Arizona  south  to  San  Felipe  Bay.  Lower 
California,  and  Cape  Lobos,  Sonora. 


It  is  a  pity  that  this  fine  bird  does  not  select  a 
habitat  more  habitable  for  man,  who,  in  order 
to  hear  its  beautiful  song  and  observe  its  inter- 
esting ways,  must  go  to  the  Gehenna-like  deserts 
of  the  Southwest,  where  the  temperature  is  often 
120°  in  the  shade  —  with  no  shade.  One  may 
easily  believe  that  the  rather  bleached  appearance 


of  this  Thrasher's  plumage  may  be  due  to  the 
savage  heat,  which,  however,  seems  to  have  little 
effect  tipon  the  bird's  disposition.  To  be  sure, 
for  two  or  three  hours  during  the  middle  of  the 
day,  when  the  heat  is  at  its  worst,  the  bird  is 
likely  to  be  silent  and  to  lurk  in  such  cover  as 
there  is ;  but  even  when  the  sun  is  making  con- 


MIMIC   THRUSHES 


185 


dition.s    alniust    unendurable    fur    human    beings 
the  Thrasher  may  be  both  seen  and  heard. 

The  bird's  distinguishing  physical  character- 
istics are  its  remarkable  speed  and  skill  in  run- 
ning, and  its  willingness  to  trust  to  its  legs,  rather 
than  to  its  wings,  to  take  it  out  of  danger.  In 
this  peculiarity  it  is  excelled  only  by  the  famous 
Road-runner.  The  Thrasher  will  easily  keep 
ahead  of  a  rapidly  trotting  horse,  and  if  winged 
by  a  shot  is  pretty  likely  to  escape  from  a  man 
on  foot ;  for,  besides  its  speed,  it  can  dodge  with 
the  quickness  of  a  cat,  and  it  is  very  clever  at 
taking  advantage  of  any  cover.  When  forced 
actually  to  take  to  its  wings,  it  is  likely  to  fly  low 


through  the  brush,  keeping  out  of  plain  sight 
until  it  makes  a  Shrike-like  sweep  upward  to  the 
top  of  a  bush,  whence  it  can  see  its  pursuer. 

Though  the  song  includes  more  metallic  and 
fewer  liquid  notes  than  that  of  the  Mockingbird, 
which  it  otherwise  resembles  somewhat,  it  is  a 
very  beautiful  effort.  The  notes  are  astonish- 
ingly loud  and  resonant,  and  almost  the  entire 
song  may  sometimes  be  heard  at  a  distance  of 
nearly  a  mile.  In  the  dead  of  night,  when  the 
desert  lies  in  tomb-like  silence  under  the  wonder- 
fully brilliant  stars,  the  nocturne  of  this  great 
singer  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  and  inspiring 
of  Nature's  utterances. 


CRISSAL  THRASHER 

Toxostoma  crissale  Hcnr\ 


General  Description. —  Length,  12  inches.  Upper 
parts,  grayish-brown;  under  parts,  white,  grayish- 
brown,  and  reddish.  Bill,  about  length  of  head,  curved 
downward  at  the  end ;  w'ings,  rather  short  and  rounded ; 
tail,  decidedly  longer  than  wing  and  rounded. 

Color. —  Above,  plain  grayish-brown,  the  tail  slightly 
darker,  tipped  with  paler  and  more  bufify-brown  ;  under 
parts,  similar  but  paler  and  slightly  more  buffy,  pass- 
ing into  dull  white  on  throat  and  chin  and  into  cinna- 
mon-rujous  on  rear  flanks,  anal  region,  and  under  tail- 
covcrts;  region  below  eye  and  forward  part  of  sides  of 
head,  dull  whitish,  the  feathers  margined  with  dusky; 
rear  of  same,  light  grayish-brown  streaked  with  whit- 


ish; cheeks,  dull  whitish,  the  feathers  sometimes  nar- 
rowly tipped  with  dusky ;  chin  and  throat,  margined 
laterally  by  a  distinct  narrow  stripe  of  dusky;  bill, 
dull  black,  and  long  and  greatly  curved;  iris,  brown. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Xest  :  In  bushes  near  ground ; 
large,  loosely  constructed  of  coarse  twigs,  lined  with 
vegetable  fibers,  coarse  grass,  small  twigs,  and  a  few 
rootlets.     Eggs  :     Usually  3,  plain  pale  bluish-green. 

Distribution. —  Deserts  of  southwestern  United 
States  and  Me.xico  ;  breeds  from  southern  Nevada  and 
southern  Utah  south  to  northern  Lower  California,  and 
Mexico  and  from  southeastern  California  to  western 
Te.xas. 


The  Crissal  Thrasher  may,  as  a  rule,  be 
distinguished  from  Bendire's  and  Palmer's 
Thrashers  by  its  long,  curved  bill  and  the  whitish 
color  of  the  throat  bordered  by  a  darker  streak. 
This  bird  gets  its  name  from  the  under  tail- 
coverts,  which  are  a  rich  chestnut  color. 

Different  species  of  birds  sometimes  hold  to  a 
type  locality,  so  that  even  if  dress  or  song  are 
somewhat  alike,  one  may  get  a  very  fair  indica- 
tion of  the  bird  itself  from  the  place  where  it 
hunts  and  lives.  While  around  Tucson,  I  found 
the  Crissal  Thrasher  very  shy,  yet  my  experience 
was  that  it  almost  always  stayed  along  the  creek 
or  river  bottoms  in  the  thick  brush.     The  other 


Thrashers  about  Tucson,  Bendire's  and  Palmer's, 
as  a  rule  were  seen  out  in  the  open  desert  living 
in  the  cactus. 

I  got  another  indication  of  the  shyness  of  the 
Crissal  Thrasher  in  trying  to  get  a  photograph 
of  the  bird  at  the  nest.  We  succeeded  in  getting 
pictures  of  the  nest  and  eggs  and  the  yoimg 
birds,  but  even  though  we  hid  the  camera  in  a 
very  careful  way  nearby,  we  could  never  get 
either  of  the  parents  to  come  close  enough  for  a 
snap.  The  eggs  are  easily  distinguished  from 
those  of  the  two  other  Thrashers  mentioned 
.above,  because  they  are  pale  bluish-green  without 
spots.  William  L.  Finley. 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


WRENS 

Order  Passeres ;  suborder  Oscines ;  family  Tr 


vtidcc 


N  the  TroglodytidcE  or  Wren  family  there  are  over  250  different  forms  through- 
out the  world,  only  some  30  species  being  represented  in  the  eastern  hemi- 
sphere. In  the  tropical  part  of  the  Americas  this  family  is  most  numerously 
developed.  Within  the  bounds  of  the  United  States  there  are  twenty-eight 
species  and  subspecies,  occupying  nearly  the  whole  country  from  the  Atlantic 
to  the  Pacific. 

With  the  exception  of  the  Marsh  Wrens  they  all  prefer  some  cozy  nook 
for  their  homes.  The  natural  sites  are  in  the  cavities  in  trees  and  rocks  but 
it  often  happens  that  farm  buildings  afford  just  the  place  that  they  desire. 
Their  nests  are  usually  dome-shaped  and  the  eggs  are  numerous,  the  clutches 
varying  from  6  to  11.  There  are  usually  two  broods  each  year.  The  eggs 
are  usually  white  or  pinkish  speckled  with  reddish-brown  but  sometimes  they  are  immaculate 
white  or  nearly  uniform  brown  or  plain  greenish-blue. 

In  plumage  the  sexes  are  alike;  and  the  young  do  not  differ  materially, if  at  all,  in  color- 
ation from  the  adults.  Red,  yellow,  green,  blue,  or  other  pure  colors  are  never  found.  On 
the  upper  parts  brown  or  reddish  hues  predominate  and  these  are  usually  varied  with  bars, 
streaks,  or  speckles  of  dusky.  The  under  parts  are  white,  gray,  buffy,  tawny,  rufous,  or 
sooty  or  have  two  or  more  of  these  colors  combined;  these  parts  are  rarely  immaculate 
and  usually  are  streaked  or  barred. 

The  Wrens  are  small  birds.  Their  bills  are  long  (usually  as  long  as  the  head  although 
in  some  cases  less)  and  compressed,  usually  slender  and  curved  downward  at  the  end.  The 
bristles  at  the  corners  of  the  mouth  are  usually  obsolete  but  frequently  they  are  quite  plain 
with  one  or  two  fairly  well  developed.  The  wing  is  rather  short  or  very  short,  much  con- 
caved underneath  and  much  rounded.  The  tail  varies  in  its  relative  length,  sometimes 
shorter  than  the  lower  part  of  the  leg;  sometimes  slightly  longer  than  the  wing  but  usually 
about  half  or  two-thirds  as  long  as  the  wing ;  it  is  always  rounded  and  sometimes  graduated 
for  more  than  one-third  of  its  length;  the  tail-feathers  are  soft  and  rounded  at  the  tips. 

Many  members  of  this  family  are  fine  songsters,  notably  the  Cactus,  the  Carolina,  and 
the  Winter  Wrens.  When  alarmed  or  displeased  they  give  utterance  to  loud,  harsh,  and 
insistent  calls.  These  little  birds  are  never  quiet  but  are  always  active  and  seemingly  excited 
about  something.  The  position  in  which  they  carry  their  tails  is  an  indication  of  their 
nervous  temperament. 

Since  the  Wrens  are  among  our  most  prolific  song  birds,  it  naturally  follows  that  a  large 
amount  of  insect  food  must  be  consumed  by  the  nestlings.  The  parents  are  industrious 
foragers,  and,  when  their  home  is  in  a  garden,  they  will  search  every  tree,  shrub,  and  vine 
for  caterpillars  and  examine  every  post  and  fence  rail  and  every  cranny  or  crevice  for  insects 
or  spiders.  No  species  of  this  family  has  been  accused  of  harm,  and  their  presence  should 
be  encouraged  about  farms,  ranches,  and  residences. 


CACTUS    WREN 
Heleodytes    brunneicapillus    couesi     {Sliarpc) 

A.    O.   U.    Number  71,) 


Other  Name. —  Coues's  Cactus  Wren. 

General  Description. —  Length,  8V2  inches.  Upper 
parts,  brown,  variegated ;  under  parts,  white,  spotted 
with  black.     Bill,  nearly  as  long  as  head,  stout :  wings. 


much   rounded  :  tail,  nearly  as  long  as  wing,  decidedly 
rounded,  the  feathers  with  broadly  rounded  tips. 

Color. —  Crown  and  hindneck,  plain  deep  brown,  the 
feathers  slightly  darker  centrally :  back,  shoulders,  and 


Court.-sv  of   tliH  N,-w  York  Slal.-  Mciscun 


Plate    102 


HOUSE  WREN 
Tr„,il,„lults  ae,l,„t  ,„,l,m  Vicillot 
WINTER  WREN 
Nanniia  hiennlis  ninmdxH  (Vioillnt^ 

SHORT-BILLED  MARSH   WREN 
Ci^lullniiHa  sl,ll,v-v<  iNnumnnn) 


CAROLINA   WREN 
Tliryolhar,i.<  liulm, nanus  Iwl.nicianus  (Lathami 

BROWN  CREEPER 
Crrlhin  tnmdiiiris  ,im,:ricana  Bonaparte 
LONG-BILLED   MARSH  WREN 
Trimnl.ultihx  ,,nli,.-:ln..i  imluslns  (Wilson) 
All  j  nat.  siz.- 


WRENS 


187 


rump,  paler  and  more  grayish-brown,  variegated  vvitli 
white,  upper  tail-coverts  and  middle  tail-leathers, 
brownish-gray,  rather  broadly,  but  irregularly,  barred 
with  dusky,  these  dusky  bars  sometimes  much  broken 
and  confused;  tail  (except  middle  feathers),  mostly 
black,  the  side  feathers  broadly  barred  with  white,  the 
rest  crossed  near  tip  by  a  broad  bar  or  band  of  white; 
the  outer  webs  of  all  except  outermost  pair  hr(jadly 
barred  or  banded  basally  with  brownish-gray  :  wing- 
coverts  and  inner  quills,  mainly  grayish  spotted  with 
•dusky  and  also  varied  with  whitish  bars  or  streaks, 
especially  on  smaller  coverts ;  primary  coverts, 
primaries,  and  secondaries  (except  inner  quills), 
dusky,  their  outer  webs  conspicuously  spotted  with 
white  or  brownish-white ;  a  broad,  conspicuous,  and 
sharply  defined  stripe  of  white  over  the  eye  usually 
margined  above  by  a  narrow  line  of  black ;  a  broad 
brown  stripe  under  the  eyes  and  occupying  upper  por- 
tion of  ear  region,  but  extending  beyond  to  side  of 
neck;   lores,  grayish;   rest  of  sides  of  head,  white,  or 


brownisli-white,  the  lower  part  of  the  ear  region 
streaked  with  black  or  dusky  ;  chin,  throat,  and  chest, 
white,  spotted  (rarely  broadly  streaked)  with  black; 
breast,  white  or  buffy-white,  deepening  into  ochraceous- 
buff  or  cinnamon-buff  on  flanks,  abdomen,  and  anal 
region,  the  wdiole  surface  marked  with  streaks  or  spots 
of  black,  these  larger  and  broader  on  flanks ;  under 
tail-coverts,  white  or  bufTy  with  large  spots  of  black; 
bill,  dusky  horn  color ;  iris,  red. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest:  In  cactus  thicket,  yucca, 
or  other  thorny  bushes,  a  large  flask-shaped  structure 
lying  horizontal,  with  entrance  at  mouth ;  constructed 
of  sticks,  thorns,  straw,  and  grasses,  lined  with 
feathers.  Eggs:  4  to  7,  white  or  buffy-white,  thickly 
sprinkled  with  rich  chestnut  spots,  sometimes  hiding  the 
ground  color. 

Distribution. —  Desert  regions  from  soutliern  parts 
of  California,  Nevada.  Utah,  Xew  Mexico,  and  Texas 
south  to  northern  Lower  California  and  the  northern 
States  of  Mexico. 


Take  it  from  nearly  every  standpoint.  Mother 
Nature  is  strict  and  harsh  with  all  her  children 
•of  the  desert.  Life  is  spent  on  the  march  or  on 
the  firing  line.  Nearly  everything  is  fortified 
with  thorns.  The  cactus  has  a  panoply  of  points 
to  protect  its  soft  spongy  meat ;  the  mesqnite. 
palo  verde,  :md  the  delicate  white  poppy  clothe 
themselves  in  thorns. 

Of  all  the  desert  plants,  the  choUa  cactus  is 
the  most  treacherous.  I  shall  never  forget  my 
first  experience.  It  is  a  favorite  nesting  place  of 
the  Cactus  \\  ren.  When  I  first  saw  a  Cactus 
^^'ren's  nest.  I  was  anxious  to  find  out  what  it 
contained.  It  was  a  gourd-shaped  bundle  of 
fibers  and  grasses  with  a  hallway  running  in 
from  the  side.  I  coid<ln't  look  in,  so  I  tried  to 
feel.  I  ran  my  hand  in  as  far  as  I  could  till 
the  thorns  about  the  entrance  pricked  into  my 
flesh.  I  started  to  pull  back.  The  more  I  pulled, 
the  tighter  the  thorns  clung  and  the  deeper  they 
pricked.  I  was  in  a  trap.  I  reached  for  my 
knife  to  cut  some  of  the  thorns  off,  but  had  to 
cringe  and  let  some  of  the  others  tear  out.  I 
looked  at  them,  but  could  see  no  barbs.  Yet 
when  they  once  enter  the  flesh,  one  can  readily 
tell  they  have  tiny  barbs,  for  it  tears  the  flesh 
to  get  them  out. 

The  Cactus  ^Vren,  as  a  rule,  selects  the 
thorniest  place  in  a  cholla  cactus,  although  he 
sometimes  nests  in  a  mesquite  or  palo  verde. 
Like  the  Tule  Wren  or  Winter  Wren,  this  bird 
often  builds  nests  that  are  not  used.  These  are 
called  "  cock  nests,"  and  are  probablv  built  bv 
the  male  wliile  the  female  is  incubating.  It  is 
a  question  whether  they  are  built  from  the  stand- 
point of  protection,  that  is  having  several  tmused 
nests  about  as  a  ruse,  or  whether  the  bird  merely 


builds  homes  until  the  pair  gets  a  nest  that  suits 
them  exactly,  .^t  any  rate,  we  examined  quite 
a  good  many  nests  before  we  really  found  one 
that  contained  eggs.  We  got  the  im]")ression 
that  some  of  these  birds  were  doing  nothing  day 
after  day  except  building  new  homes.  .Some  of 
the  Wrens,  however,  were  young,  and  ine.xperi- 


Drawing  by  R.  I.  li.  ,    ,.  ^ 

CACTOS  WREN  (J  nat.  size) 

A  desert  bird  that  builds  in  a  iheraux-de-fri^e  of  yucca  bayonets  and 
cactus  needles 

enced  at  nest  building,  for  occasionally  we 
noticed  where  a  nest  was  so  poorly  built  that 
either  the  floor  dropped  out  or  the  roof  caved  in. 
When  one  thitiks  of  a  Wren,  he  thinks  of  a 
tiny  fidgety  body  with  an  up-turned  tail.  If  he 
has  this  in  mind  when  he  visits  the  cactus 
country,  he  will  likely  not  know  what  the  Cactus 
Wren  is,  for  it  is  a  very  unwren-like  bird.  It 
is  larger  in  size  than  an  English  .Sparrow  or  the 
Bluebird.  Its  song  is  tmwren-like,  but  the  bird 
may  be  recognized  by  the  white  throat  and  breast 
which    are    heavily    marked    with    black    round 


1 88 


BIRDS   OF    AMERICA 


spots.     Like  a  Carolina  Wren,  it  sings  with  head 
up  and  tail  hanging.  William  L.  Finley. 

Bryant's   Cactus   Wren    {Hclcodytcs   bniniici- 
capilliis  bryaiili)    is   darker   and   browner  above 


Photo  by  Mrs.  F.  T.  Bicknell      Courtesy  of  Nat.  Asso.  Aud.  Sou.  ' 
NEST  OF  CACTUS  WREN 

than  the  common  Cactus  Wren,  and  its  shoulders, 
back,  and  rump  are  conspicuously  streaked  with 
white;  three  of  the  lateral  tail-feathers  are  dis- 


tinctly barred  with  white ;  its  under  parts  are 
more  uniformly  marked  with  black.  It  is  dis- 
tributed over  the  Pacific  coast  district  of  south- 
ern California  and  northern  Lower  California.  • 
Though  at  present  the  Cactus  Wren  is  found 
chiefly  in  the  deserts  and  waste  places  where  its 
diet  is  a  matter  of  little  or  no  economic  im- 
portance, it  is  not  at  all  unlikely  that  its  feed- 
ing habits  may  some  day  afifect  agriculture,  and 
for  that  reason  its  natural  dietary  preferences 
may  well  receive  some  consideration  now.  Those 
I  (references  were  pretty  clearly  shown  by  exam- 
ination of  forty-one  stomachs  of  the  bird  taken 
in  southern  California ;  these  contained  about  83 
per  cent,  of  animal  matter  and  about  17  per  cent, 
of  vegetable  food.  Of  the  insects  taken  about  27 
per  cent,  were  beetles,  chiefly  weevils  and  snout- 
beetles,  and  all  more  or  less  injurious.  Among 
the  bugs  that  had  been  devoured  were  black 
scales,  which  are  very  injurious  to  fruit  trees. 
The  vegetable  food  (17  per  cent.)  consisted  of 
fruit  pulp  and  weed  seeds,  all  of  wild  species.  It 
therefore,  appears  that  this  Wren's  food  con- 
tains little  that  is  useful  to  man,  while  the  re- 
mainder is  made  up  of  elements  which  are,  or 
would  be,  harmful  on  cultivated  lands. 


ROCK  WREN 
Salpinctes  obsoletus  obsoletus   (Say) 

A.    O.   U.   Number  715 


General  Description. —  Length,  6' 2  inches.  Upper 
parts,  grayish-brown,  speckled ;  under  parts,  whitish 
streaked  with  dark.  Bill,  shorter  than  head,  slender, 
and  straight  (except  extreme  tip)  ;  wings,  rather  long, 
moderately  rounded;  tail,  about  -14  length  of  wing, 
slightly  rounded,  the  feathers  very  broad. 

Color. — Above,  grayish-brown  or  brownish-gray 
changing  on  rump  to  wine-colored  cinnamon,  most  of 
the  surface  marked  with  small  wedge-shaped  spots  or 
short  streaks  of  dusky;  middle  tail-feathers,  grayish- 
brown  barred  with  dusky;  remaining  tail-feathers 
grayish-brown,  broadly  tipped  with  cinnamon-bufT  and 
crossed  by  a  broad  band  of  black  ;  a  distinct  whitish 
stripe  over  the  eye  and  a  grayish-brown  one  back  of 
it;  eye  and  cheek  regions  and  lower  portion  of  ear 
region,  dull  white  or  brownish-white;  under  parts,  dull 
white,    passing     into    pale     cinnamon-buff    on     flanks; 


throat  and  chest  (sometimes  breast  also)  usually 
streaked  with  grayish-brown  or  dusky ;  bill,  horn  color ; 
iris,  brown. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest  :  Usually  placed  in  a  cleft  of 
rocks;  constructed  of  a  large  variety  of  materials,  but 
principally  small  twigs,  moss.  wool,  hair,  grass,  or 
weeds;  a  paving  in  front  of  nest  made  of  small  pebbles, 
pieces  of  glass,  or  rock.  Eggs:  5  to  8,  usually  5  or  6, 
glossy  white,  minutely  and  thinly  speckled  with  chest- 
nut. 

Distribution. —  Western  North  America  ;  breeds  from 
southern  British  Columbia,  west  central  Alberta,  and 
southwestern  Saskatchewan  south  to  Mexico  and 
peninsula  of  Lower  California  and  adjacent  islands, 
east  to  western  North  Dakota,  central  Nebraska  (casu- 
ally western  Iowa),  and  central  Texas;  winters  in 
southern  part  of  its  United  States  range  and  in  Mexico. 


Wrens  seem  to  have  traditions  as  some  people 
do.  I  do  not  remember  ever  examining  the  nest 
of  the  Parkman,  or  Western  House,  Wren  and 
not  finding  a  bit  of  snake  skin  woven  into  the 


home.  Perhaps  this  answers  the  purpose  of  a 
hearthstone  deity  or  a  relic  of  long  ago  when  the 
first  Wrens  must  have  fought  the  reptile  tribes. 
The  Rock  Wren  is  not  unlike  its  cousin  in  its. 


WRENS 


189 


liousehold  eccentricities.  It  nests  in  a  rocky 
crevice.  It  often  makes  a  path  into  the  nest. 
".And  when  it  comes  to  lining  the  approaches  of 
.the  chosen  cavity,  what  do  you  suppose  they 
use?"  says  Mr.  \\'.  L.  Pawson.  "  Why,  rocks, 
of  course ;  not  large  ones  this  time,  but  flakes 
and  pebbles  of  basalt,  which  rattle  pleasantly 
every  time  the  bird  goes  in  and  out.  These  rock- 
chips  are  sometimes  an  inch  or  more  in  diameter, 
and  it  is  difficult  to  conceive  how  a  bird  with 
such  a  delicate  beak  can  compass  their  removal. 
Here  they  are,  however,  to  the  quantity  of  half 


mind  with  the  sand  and  the  sage.  I  have  often 
seen  him  in  the  arid  desert  regions  of  eastern 
Oregon.  The  first  time  1  ever  saw  him.  I 
recognized  him  instantlv  bv  his  general  \\  ren 
character.  He  is  generally  appreciated,  for  he 
is  often  seen  where  songsters  are  rather  scarce. 
/\.s  Airs.  Bailey  says,  "  Even  his  song,  which  at 
first  hearing  seems  the  drollest,  most  unbird-like 
of  machine-made  tinklings,  comes  to  be  greeted 
as  the  voice  of  a  friend  in  the  desert,  and  its 
quality  to  seem  in  harmony  with  the  hard,  gritty 
granites  in  which  he  lives.  Its  phrases  are 
varied,  but  one  of   its  commonest  —  given  [)er- 


Drawing  by  R.  I.  Brasher 

ROCK  WREN  (  i  nat.  size) 
elcome  sign  of  cheerful  Ufe  in  the  torrid  western  canons 


a  pint  or  more,  and  they  are  just  as  nuich  a 
necessity  to  every  well-regulated  .Salpinctean 
household  as  marble  steps  are  to  Philadel- 
phians." 

The    Rock    \\'ren    is    typical    of    the    rimrock 
regions   of   the   West.      He   is  associated    in    inv 


hajis  from  the  top  of  a  clifif  while  his  mate  is 
feeding  their  brood  on  a  ledge  below  —  is  little 
more  than  a  harsh  kra-zi.'cCj  kra-ivec.  kra-wcc, 
km-7ccc,  given  slowly  at  first,  then  after  a  little 
bob  repeated  in  faster  time." 

William  L.  Fi.xley. 


CAROLINA  WREN 

Thryothorus  ludovicianus  ludovicianus  {Latham) 


-\     n.   l\    XumhcT  ;i8 

Other  Names.— Mocking  Wren;  Great  Carolina 
Wren  :  Louisiana  Wren. 

General  Description. —  Length,  5'_'  inches.  Upper 
parts,     rnsty-brown  ;    under    parts,    liuffy-white.       Bill, 


See   Color    ri.ite    lOj 

shorter  than  head,  slightly  but  decidedly  curved  down- 
ward ;  wings,  rather  short  and  rounded ;  tail,  about  4/5 
length  of  wing,  rounded,  the  feathers  broadly  rounded 
at  the  tip. 


190 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


Color. — Above,  plain  rusty-brown  (nearly  prouts- 
brown  to  chestnut-brown),  duller  on  crown  (especially 
on  forehead),  brighter  (light  chestnut  or  rufous-chest- 
nut) on  rump  and  upper  tail-coverts;  rump  with  con- 
cealed roundish  spots  of  white,  the  feathers  dark  slate 
color  or  blackish-slate  basally ;  wings  and  tail,  duller 
brown  than  back,  narrowly  (sometimes  indistinctly) 
barred  with  dusky,  the  exterior  tail-feathers  and  pri- 
maries with  interspaces  between  dusky  bars  much 
paler  (pale  buffy  or  dull  whitish,  at  least  in  part)  ; 
middle  wing-coverts  and  some  of  greater  coverts, 
usually  with  a  small  triangular  terminal  spot  of  white 
or  pale  buffy,  margined  (except  at  the  ends)  with 
dusky ;  over  the  eye  a  sharply  defined  and  conspicuous 
stripe  of  white  or  buffy-white,  bordered  above  by  a 
narrow  black  line  along  the  side  margin  of  crown  and 
neck;  a  broad  stripe  of  rufous-brown  back  of  the  eye 
and  occupying  upper  half  (approximately)  of  ear 
region,  continued  (sometimes  brokenly)  across  side  of 
neck ;  the  space  under  the  eye  and  the  lower  portion  of 
ear  region,  dull  white,  buffy-white,  or  pale  buff,  the 
feathers  narrowly  edged  or  margined  with  dusky,  pro- 


ducing streaked  or  scale-like  efifect ;  cheeks,  chin,  and 
upper  throat,  plain  dull  white;  rest  of  under  parts, 
plain  dull  buffy-white  tinged  with  buff  on  chest,  sides, 
flanks,  and  anal  region,  or  distinctly  buff,  deepest  on 
flanks;  under  tail-coverts,  buffy-whitish  or  pale  buff 
broadly  barred  with  black;  flanks  (occasionally  sides 
also)  very  rarely  barred  with  dusky-brown;  bill,  horn 
color ;  iris,  brown. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest:  Placed  in  brush  heaps, 
holes  in  logs  or  rocks,  in  low  bushes,  or  outbuildings ;  a 
large,  rough  structure  of  coarse  grass,  corn  leaves,  hay, 
leaves,  corn  silk,  lined  with  horse-hair,  feathers  and 
fine  grasses.  Eggs  :  From  4  to  6,  varying  from  white 
to  pinkish-buff,  so  thickly  sprinkled  with  brownish-pink 
as  to  obscure  the  ground  color  in  some  cases. 

Distribution. —  Eastern  United  States ;  breeds  from 
southeastern  Nebraska,  southern  Iowa,  Ohio,  southern 
Pennsylvania,  and  lower  Hudson  and  Connecticut  val- 
leys south  to  central  Texas  (western  Texas  in  winter), 
Gulf  States,  and  northern  Florida;  casual  north  to 
Wisconsin,  Michigan,  Ontario,  Massachusetts,  New 
Hampshire,  and  Maine. 


The  folk-lore  and  tradition  of  the  Old  World 
marks  the  Wren  as  a  tiny  bird ;  American  litera- 
ture follows  suit.  Darius  Green  characterizes 
the  family  in  these  immortal  words,  "  the  little 


Courtesy  of  Am.    Mus.   Xat.  Hist. 
CAROLINA  WREN  (I  nat.  size  I 
It  sings  nearly  the  whole  year  round 

chatterin'  sassy  wren,  no  bigger'n  my  thumb." 
but  the  Carolina  Wren  certainly  is  not  tiny.  In 
fact  it  is  so  large  that  early  American  ornitholo- 
gists referred  to  it  as  the  Great  Carolina  Wren, 
with  the  accent  on  the  Great. 

Notwithstanding  its  size  it  possesses  in  full  the 
activity,  nervousness,  excitability,  volubility,  and 
curiosity  attributed  to  W'rens  from  time  imme- 
morial.    It  seems  full  of  song,  sings  nearly  the 


whole  year  round,  and  its  voice  like  that  of  other 
Wrens  is  loud,  clear,  strong  and  sweet,  but  its 
song  does  not  express  the  bubbling,  outpouring, 
irrepressible  ecstasy  that  characterizes  those  of 
the  House  Wren  and  Winter  Wren.  One  of  its 
common  phrases  is  very  well  expressed  by  the 
words  tea-kettle,  tea-kettle,  tea-kettle.  It  has 
been  called  the  Mocking  Wren  because  some  of 
its  notes  resemble  those  of  other  birds,  particu- 
larly the  whistling  call  of  the  Tufted  Titmouse 
and  a  song  of  the  Cardinal.  Its  notes  are  varied 
but  probably  it  hardly  deserves  the  name  of  an 
imitator. 

It  is  not  naturally  as  domestic  as  the  House 
AN'ren,  being  more  inclined  to  the  neighborhood 
of  woods  and  swampy  thickets  than  to  that  of 
huirian  habitations.  If  stared  at  it  is  likely  to 
grow  nervous  and  to  betake  itself  quickly  to 
cover,  for  it  usually  has  a  safe  harbor  under  its 
lee.  It  is  fond  of  high,  thick  shrubbery,  but  can 
hide  readily  in  old  stumps,  under  logs  or  in  very 
low-growing  vegetation  to  which  it  flies  when 
no  other  cover  is  near. 

Its  abundant  energy  is  expressed  by  both  voice 
and  tail  and  the  latter  is  used  freely  for  gesticu- 
lation. 

Although  this  \\'ren  is  a  cave  dweller  and 
nests  normally  in  the  hollows  of  trees  or  in  other 
natural  cavities  in  the  wilderness,  it  seems  more 
and  more  to  acquire  confidence  in  mankind  and 
quite  often  builds  in  some  nook  in  an  outbuilding 
or  even  in  a  bird  house  or  nesting  box  put  up 
for  more  domestic  birds.  Rather  recently  two 
nests  have  been  found  in  grape  baskets  hung  up 


WRENS 


191 


in  outbuildings.  The  only  nest  with  eggs  taken 
in  Massachusetts  that  is  now  on  exhibition  in 
any  museum  is  in  the  collection  of  the  Boston 
Society  of  Natural  History.  Its  history  as  told 
by  its  discoverer  is  this :  He  hung  for  safe  keep- 
ing high  under  the  ridgepole  inside  the  barn  a 
grape  basket  containing  some  sticks  of  dynamite. 
A  few  weeks  later  when  he  went  to  get  it  the 
Wren  had  built  her  nest  in  the  basket,  deposited 
her  eggs  and  was  incubating.  The  dynamite  was 
removed  with  great  care  and  replaced  with  paper, 
but  the  bird  refused  to  be  comforted  and  de- 
serted the  nest.  Edw.4.kd  Howe  Forbusii. 

The  Carolina  \Wen  has  to  its  credit  an  ap- 
parent disposition  to  destroy  the  dreaded  boll 
weevil  whose  working  on  cotton-bolls  has  been 
a  most  serious  matter  in  several  Southern  States. 
The  ^^'rens  live  in  Texas  and  Louisiana  through- 
out the  year,  and  frequent  thickets  and  clearings 
littered  with  fallen  timber.  In  these  sur- 
roundings they  capture  the  weevils  during  their 
period  of  hibernation,  and  it  is  apparent  that  thcv 
also  take  them  in  the  Spanish  moss  during  the 
same  period. 

The  Florida  \\'ren  (  Thryothorus  Uidovicianus 
niianiciisis)  is  larger  than  the  Carolina  Wren 
and  its  coloration  is  darker  and  richer;  the  upper 
parts  are  rich  chestnut  to  dark  chestnut,  the 
stripe  over  the  eye  is  decidedly  bufify.  the  under 
parts    ( except  the  chin   and   upper   throat )    are 


deep  clay  color  or  tawny  yellow,  the  flanks 
tinged  with  chestnut  and  ( sometimes  the  sides 
also)  barred  with  chestnut  or  dusky.  It  is  found 
only  in  the  pem'nsula  of  Florifla.  south  of  the 
.Suwanee  River. 


lj>  J   b    ^rmfitld  C")UrtL 

NEST  OF  A  CAROLINA  WREN 
In  an  old  wash-basin 


BEWICK'S  WREN 
Thryomanes   bewicki  bewicki    {Audubon) 

A.    O.    U.    Number   719 


Other  Names. —  Long-tailed  House  Wren ;  Song 
Wren. 

General  Description. —  Length,  5'j  inches.  L'pper 
parts,  brown  ;  under  parts,  grayish-white.  Bill,  shorter 
than  head,  slender :  wings,  short  and  rounded ;  tail, 
about  length  of  wing,  rounded,  the  feathers  broadly 
rounded  at  the  tip. 

Color. —  Crozi'it,  hindncch,  back,  shoulders  and 
smaUcr  n'ing-covcrts.  plain  brozvn,  the  rump,  more 
chestnut-brown ;  secondaries  and  greater  wing-coverts, 
brown,  the  former  distinctly,  the  latter  indistinctly, 
barred  with  dusky ;  primaries  dusky,  their  outer  webs 
edged  and  spotted  with  pale  brownish ;  upper  fail- 
coverts  and  middle  tail-feathers,  brownish-gray,  the 
latter  distinctly,  the  former  indistinctly,  barred  with 
dusky;  a  conspicuous  and  sharply  defined  stripe  of 
white  or  buffy-white  extending  over  the  eyes  to  the 
back  of  the  head,  the  front  portion  narrower  and  usu- 
ally, more  grayish  ;  a  broad  brown  stripe  behind  the  eye 
\oi..   111.—  14 


occupying  upper  half  ( appro.ximately)  of  ear  region; 
under  parts,  dull  (7rayisli-Z!.'hitc  or  very  pale  gray, 
becoming  more  decidedly  white  on  abdomen,  the  sides 
and  flanks  tin.ged  with  brown  ;  iris,  brown. 

Nest  and  Eggs.—  Nest  :  Located  like  the  House 
Wren,  almost  anywhere,  in  outbuildings,  boxes,  stumps, 
watering  pots,  or  any  hollow  objects,  hung  in  trees  or 
lying  on  ground,  constructed  of  materials  similar  to 
those  used  by  the  House  Wren.  Eggs  :  4  to  7.  dull 
white  speckled  with  chestnut,  more  profusely  around 
large  end  where  often  forming  a  wreath. 

Distribution. —  Eastern  United  States ;  breeds  from 
southeastern  Nebraska,  northern  Illinois,  southern 
Michigan,  and  south-central  Pennsylvania  south  to 
central  Arkansas,  northern  Mississippi,  central  Ala- 
bama, and  along  the  Alleghenian  hi.ghways  to  northern 
South  Carolina  ;  winters  from  near  the  northern  limit 
of  its  range  southward  to  the  Gulf  coast  and  Florida: 
accidental  in  Ontario  and  New  Hampshire. 


192 


BIRDS    OF    AMERICA 


Fussy,  nervous,  excitable,  impatient,  restless, 
and  inquisitive,  his  tail  cocked  up  over  his  back 
with  true  Wren-like  pertness,  this  energetic  little 
bunch  of  flesh  and  feathers  is  much  like  his  well 
known  cousin,  the  House  Wren.  ■  But  he  is  a 
much  better  singer  than  Mr.  Jenny. 

"  Not  a  voluble  chatter,  like  the  House 
Wren's,"  says  W.  F.  Henninger  ( in  Dawson's 
Birds  of  Ohio),  "but  clear,  strong  and  cheery, 
easily  heard  for  a  quarter  of  a  mile  —  such  is 
the  song  of  Bewick's  Wren.  Easily  distinguished 
from  the  former,  he  has  the  same  teasing  ways 
about  him  —  now  peeping  into  some  corner,  now 
examining  the  wood-pile,  now  crawling  into  a 
knot-hole  of  a  smoke-house,  creeping  forth  like 
a  mouse  at  the  next  moment,  whisking  his  erectly 
carried  tail,  watching  you  carefully  though  fear- 
lessly, he  all  of  a  sudden  mounts  some  fence- 
post,  pours  forth  his  proud  metallic  notes,  drops 
down  into  the  chicken  yard,  disappears  in  the 
pig  pen,  mockingly  scolds  at  you,  sings  again, 
and  is  willing  to  keep  this  game  up  all  day.  We 
do  not  know  which  to  admire  more,  his  beautiful 
song  or  his  confidence  in  man." 

This  species  is  also  Wren-like  in  its  selection 
of  queer  nesting  places  —  an  old  shoe,  tlie  arm 
of  an  old  coat,  a  discarded  battered  tin  cup,  and 
so  on.  Indeed,  in  this  respect  these  Wrens  re- 
veal wonderfully  versatile  adaptability,  which, 
incidentally,  reflects  a  most  gratifying  friendli- 
ness for  and  confidence  in  mere  man. 

The  economic  value  of  this  Wren's  feeding 
habits  is  beyond  all  question  very  great.  The 
contents  of  146  stomachs  examined  showed  that 
of  its  diet  for  a  year  a  little  more  than  97  per 
cent,  was  composed  of  insects  and  less  than  3 
per  cent,  of  vegetable  matter.  The  only  vege- 
table matter  found  that  could  possibly  be  useful 
to  man  was  a  little  fruit  pulp.  Of  the  animal 
food  various  families  of  bugs  made  up  the  largest 
percentage.  These  included  several  species  be- 
longing  to   the   same    family   as   the   highly   de- 


structive chinch  bug,  and  their  destruction  by 
birds  undoubtedly  is  very  beneficial.  It  was  also 
evident  that  the  bird  feeds  on  the  black  olive  scale, 
a  very  harmful  species.  About  21  per  cent,  of 
the  bird's  food  consists  of  beetles,  chiefly  lady- 
birds, weevils,  and  other  species.  Ladybirds, 
which  constituted  about  3  per  cent,  of  the  food 
found  in  the  stomachs  examined,  are  probably 
the  most  useful  insects  of  their  order,  and  the 
bird's  destruction  of  them  is  regrettable.  On  the 
other  hand,  the  bird  eats  weevils,  or  snout  beetles, 
to  the  extent  of  nearly  10  per  cent,  of  its  food, 
and  as  all  of  these  are  harmful,  and  some  the 
most  injurious  of  all  pests  of  the  orchard  or 
forest,  it  must  be  admitted  that  the  Wren  pays 
a  fair  price  for  the  ladybirds.  Beetles  belonging 
to  the  family  of  engravers,  which  live  under  the 
bark  of  trees  and  greatly  damage  valuable  tim- 
ber, are  also  destroyed  by  these  Wrens. 

West  of  the  Mississippi  are  five  regional  vari- 
eties of  Bewick's  Wren.  In  the  coast  region  of 
middle  California  is  Vigors's  Wren  (Thryomancs 
bcivicki  spiliinis).  larger  and  browner  than  the 
type  species.  In  the  southern  part  of  the  Great 
Plains  is  the  Texas  \\'ren  (Thryoinanes  bczvicki 
cryptus)  :  this  member  of  the  family  is  also  larger 
than  his  eastern  relative  but  his  coloration  is 
grayer.  Baird's  Wren  {Thryomanes  bczvicki 
bairdi)  breeds  from  California  (east  of  the 
.Sierra  Nevada),  southern  Nevada,  southern  Utah 
and  southeastern  Colorado  south  into  Mexico ; 
he  is  smaller  than  Bewick's  \\Ven.  Still  smaller 
and  with  his  upper  part  a  duller,  or  slightly 
olive,  brown  is  the  San  Diego  Wren  {Thry- 
omancs bczvicki  charicnturus)  ;  he  lives  in  the 
coast  district  of  southern  California  and  northern 
Lower  California.  The  Seattle  Wren  (Thry- 
omancs bczvicki  calophonus)  is  a  deep  sepia  on 
his  upper  parts ;  his  home  is  the  yellow-pine 
country  of  the  Pacific  slope  from  .Southern  Van- 
couver and  southern  British  Columbia  south  to 
Oregon. 


HOUSE  WREN 
Troglodytes  aedon  aedon  J'icillot 

A.    O.    U.    Number   721        .'^ee   Color   Plate    102 


Other  Names. —  Brown  Wren  :  Common  Wren : 
Wood  Wren  ;  Stump  Wren  ;  Short-tailed  House  Wren  ; 
Jenny  Wren. 

General  Description. —  Length.  5  inches.  Upper 
parts,   brown ;    under   parts,   white   and   grayish-brown. 


Bill,  shorter  than  head,  straight  or  but  very  slightly 
curved  downward,  tapering  gradually;  wings,  moderate 
in  length,  rounded ;  tail,  about  length  of  wing,  much 
rounded,  the  feathers  narrow  with  rounded  tips. 

Color. — Above,  brozmi   (nearest  prouts-brown)   duller 


WRENS 


193 


and  grayer  on  crown,  wliere  the  feathers  have  the 
central  portion  indistinctly  darker;  brighter  or  more 
rufescent  on  rump  and  upper  tail-coverts;  back  and 
shoulders,  sometimes  narrowly  and  indistinctly  barred 
with  dusky  ;  upper  tail-coverts,  narrowly  barred  with 
dusky ;  tail,  greater  zi'iny-covcrts,  and  secondaries, 
/iroii')/.  narroii'ly  barred  zvith  black:  primaries  dusky, 
their  outer  webs  spotted  with  pale  brown,  these  spots  in 
transverse  series  forming  regular,  broad  bars ;  under 
eye,  cheek,  and  ear  regions  (except  upper  portion  of  the 
latter),  very  pale  grayish-butTy  or  dull  brownish-white; 
chin,  throat.  a)id  abdomen,  dull  lehite,  the  last  some- 
times speckled  with  dusky:  chest  and  sides  of  breast, 
very  pale  grayish-brown  or  grayish-buflfy,  passing  into 
a  deeper  and  more  decidedly  brown  hue  on  sides  and 
flanks,  which  are  barred  (narrowly)  with  darker  brown 
or  dusky ;  under  tail-coverts,  dull  white  tinged  or  inter- 


mixed with  rusty-brown  and  irregularly  barred  with 
black ;  iris,  brown. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Xest  :  Usually  in  boxes  erected 
by  man  for  their  convenience,  under  house  cornices  and 
eaves,  in  fact  almost  anywhere,  from  the  pocket  of  a 
scarecrow  to  'an  old  tin  can  on  the  ground ;  con- 
structed of  small  twigs,  grass,  feathers,  spiders'  webs, 
and  lined  with  soft  strips  of  bark,  down,  or  feathers. 
Eggs  :  From  6  to  8,  dull  white  so  profusely  spotted 
with  reddish-  or  pinkish-brown  as  to  obscure  the  ground 
color. 

Distribution. —  Eastern  United  States  and  Canada  ; 
breeds  north  to  New  Brunswick,  Maine,  Ontario,  Michi- 
gan, and  eastern  Wisconsin,  and  south  to  Virginia 
and  Kentucky;  winters  in  the  South  Atlantic  and 
Gulf  States,  and  through  eastern  Texas  to  eastern 
Mexico. 


Fussy  little  "  Jenny  "  Wren  has  the  proud  dis- 
tinction of  having  forced  upon  her  entire  species 
the  popular  name  which  was  given  her  by  the 
early  English  colonists,  in  memory  of  the  much 
milder  mannered  bird  of  the  old  country.  As 
Mrs.  \\'right  says :  "  We  always  speak  of  Jenny 
^^^ren ;  always  refer  to  the  Wren  as  she,  as  we 
do  of  a  ship.  It  is  Johnny  Wren  who  sings  and 
disports  himself  generally,  but  it  is  Jenny  who, 
by  dint  of  nuich  fussing  and  scolding,  keeps  her- 
self well  to  the  front.  She  chooses  the  building- 
site  and  settles  all  the  little  domestic  details.  If 
Johnny  does  not  like  her  choice,  he  may  go  awav 
and  stay  away ;  she  will  remain  where  she  has 
taken  up  her  abode  and  make  a  second  matri- 
monial venture."  (  Birdcraft.) 

This  is  an  accurate  estimate  of  the  character 
of  Jenny  who,  in  truth,  is  a  good  deal  of  a  shrew, 
and  a  chronic  scold  on  general  principles.  By  the 
same  token,  Johnny  is  likely  to  present  a  prettv 
good  imitation  of  a  henpecked  hu,sband,  for  from 
the  moment  he  promises  to  love,  cherish,  and 
obey  Jenny,  he  hardly  dares  say  his  soul  is  his 
own.  However,  he  doesn't  appear  to  be  in  the 
least  depressed  by  this  state  of  affairs,  for  his 
bubbling  song  is  one  of  the  merriest  and  most 
spontaneous  of  bird  utterances. 

The  Latin  term  Trof/lodytidiv,  under  which 
these  birds  are  classified,  means  literally  "  cave- 
dwellers,"  and  is  appropriate  as  applied  to  the 
European  Wren,  which  fashions  a  cave-shaped 
nest,  and  also  as  to  the  American  species  (the 
present  one,  the  Winter  Wren  and  the  Eong  and 
Short-billed  Marsh  Wrens)  whicli  build  in  cavi- 
ties or  construct  nests  after  tlie  general  pattern 
of  the  European  species.     The  House  Wren  is 


famous  for  the  odd  kinds  of  cavities  which  it 
selects  for  its  nest.  It  is  rpiick  to  take  advantage 
of  a  bird-bd.x  of  almost  any  kind,  and  hollow 
limbs   or   trunks   of    fruit   trees   are   also   often 


,»^ 


>-uurtfsy  ,,t  .\m.   Mus.    Xat.  Hist. 
HOUSE  WREN     ( ;  nat.  size) 
A  fussy,  scolding  mite 

Utilized.  In  fact  the  House  Wren  seems  to  be 
especially  partial  to  apple  orchards.  But  lacking 
a  natural  or  prepared  cavity,  almost  any  sub- 
stitute will  do.  For  example,  a  discarded  straw 
hat  or  leather  glove  is  often  used,  if  it  is  found 
in  the  right  surroundings,  and  battered  fruit- 
cans  are  frequently  pressed  into  service.  Nor  is 
the  bird  in  the  least  concerned  as  to  whether  the 
article  with  a  cavity  in  it  is  discarded  or  no< 


194 


BIRDS   OF    AMERICA 


This  was  proved  by  a  photograph,  reproduced  in 
one  of  the  magazines  a  few  years  ago,  which 
showed  a  House  Wren's  nest  built  neatly  in  one 
of  the  hip  pockets  of  a  pair  of  fishing  trousers 
which  some  dutiful  Mrs.  Izaak  Walton  had  hung 
out  on  a  line  to  dry.  It  is  a  safe  conjecture 
that  Izaak  had  to  do  his  fishing  in  another  pair 
of  trousers  until  that  little  domestic  aflfair  had 
been  completed. 


Phutu  by  H.  K.  JuIj  Courtrsy  o£  Outing  Pub.  Co. 

HOUSE  WREN 
Emerging  from  nest  in  an  old  can  nailed  to  an  apple  tree 

An  experiment  of  Mr.  J.  Alden  Loring,  an  ex- 
perienced field-naturalist  of  Owego,  N.  Y., 
demonstrated  in  a  most  interesting  and  conclu- 
sive manner  the  homing  instinct  of  a  particular 
House  ^^'ren.  The  bird  built  her  nest  in  a  bird- 
box  in  Mr.  Loring's  back  yard,  and  he  tamed  her 
so  that  she  would  take  meal  worms  out  of  his 
hand.  Jenny  disappeared  in  the  fall  and  doubt- 
less  made   the   long   migratory   journey    to   the 


southland.  The  following  spring,  Mr.  Loring 
saw  a  pair  of  the  birds  examining  his  bird-box 
and  took  his  stand  as  he  had  the  year  before, 
holding  out  meal  worms  in  his  hand.  In  a  few 
minutes  one  of  the  birds  alighted  on  his  arm, 
with  very  little  show  of  fear,  and  seized  one  of 
the  worms.  As  it  had  taken  much  patience  and 
persistence  to  overcome  the  bird's  fear,  Mr.  Lor- 
ing regarded  this  as  conclusive  proof  that  this 
little  Wren  was  the  very  one  he  had  tamed  the 
year  before.  George  Gladden. 

As  regards  food  habits,  the  House  Wren  is 
entirely  beneficial.  Practically  he  may  be  said 
to  live  upon  animal  food  alone,  for  an  examina- 
tion of  fifty-two  stomachs  showed  that  98  per 
cent,  of  the  contents  was  made  up  of  insects  or 
their  allies,  and  only  2  per  cent,  was  vegetable 
food,  including  bits  of  grass  and  similar  matter, 
evidently  taken  by  accident  with  the  insects. 
Half  of  this  food  consisted  of  grasshoppers  and 
beetles;  the  remainder,  of  caterpillars,  bugs,  and 
s[)iders. 

Dr.  Eaton  notices  that  House  Wrens  pay 
frequent  visits  to  the  nests  of  Yellow  Warblers, 
Chipping  Sparrows,  and  other  species  which  live 
near  his  home,  and  peck  small  holes  in  the  eggs. 

In  western  North  America  the  House  Wren 
is  decidedly  paler  and  grayer  and  his  back  and 
shoulders  are  usually  distinctly  barred  with 
dusky ;  he  is  also  larger.  The  \\^estern  House 
Wren,  or  Parkman  Wren  (Troglodvtes  acdon 
parkiiiani).  as  he  is  called,  breeds  from  southern 
British  Columbia,  northern  Alberta,  central 
Saskatchewan,  and  southern  Manitoba  south  to 
Lower  California,  southern  Arizona,  southwest- 
ern Texas,  southern  Missouri,  and  southern 
Illinois.  In  the  winter  he  is  found  from  Cali- 
fornia and  Texas  south  into  Mexico. 


WINTER   WREN 

Nannus  hiemalis  hiemalis  (  Jlcillot) 

A.    n,   U.    Number   722       ^oe   ("o'nr   Plate    10-' 


Other  Names. —  Wood  Wren  ;  Mouse  Wren  :  Spruce 
Wren  ;  Short-tailed  Wren. 

General  Description. —  Length.  4  inches.  Upper 
parts,  reddish-brown ;  under  parts,  pale  wood-brown, 
speckled  with  dusky.  Bill,  shorter  than  head,  very 
slender,  and  awl-shaped ;  wings,  short  and  rounded ; 
tail.  2^  length  of  wing,  much  rounded,  the  feathers 
narrow  with  rounded  tips. 

Color. — Above,   reddish-brown,   the   back,    shoulders, 


and  rump  barred  with  dusky :  tail,  light  chestnut-brown 
nr  reddish-brown,  narrowly  Csoraetimes  indistinctly) 
barred  with  dusky :  wings,  similar  in  color  to  back, 
barred  with  dusky ;  under  eye  and  ear  regions, 
brownish-bufify,  narrowly  streaked  with  brown ;  a  nar- 
row stripe  of  brownish-buffy  over  the  eye  and  a  nar- 
row stripe  of  brown  back  of  the  eye;  cheek  region, 
chin,  throat,  and  chest,  light  wood-brown  or  pale  cin- 
namon ;  the  lower  throat  and  chest,  sometimes  speckled 


WRENS 


195 


with  dusky ;  rest  of  under  parts,  speckled  or  finely 
marked  '^u'ith  dusky  on  a  pale  wood-brown  or  cinnamon 
ground-color;  iris,  brown. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest:  In  cavity  of  stump,  or 
among  roots  of  upturned  tree;  constructed  of  small 
twigs,  plant  stems,  moss,  and  lichens  woven  together 
and  warmly  lined  with  moss,  fur.  hair,  and  feathers, 
with  a  small  circular  opening.  Eccs :  5  to  7  or  8, 
creamy-white,  minutely  dotted  with  reddish-brown  and 
lavender. 


Distribution. —  Eastern  United  States  and  Canada ; 
north  to  Nova  Scotia,  Prince  Edward  Island,  New 
Brunswick,  Quebec,  Ontario,  and  Manitoba ;  breeding 
southward  to  Massachusetts,  New  York,  Michigan,  and 
Wisconsin,  more  rarely  to  northern  Indiana  and  Illinois 
and  central  Iowa,  and  through  mountain  districts  of 
Pennsylvania,  Maryland,  \'irginia,  and  West  \'irginia 
to  western  North  Carolina  ;  wintering  from  near  south- 
ern breeding  limit  to  northern  Florida  and  thence  along 
Gulf  coast  to  Texas. 


"  Such  a  dapper,  fidgety,  gesticulating,  bob- 
bing-up-and-down-and-out-and-in  little  bird,  and 
yet  full  of  such  sweet,  wild  melody  !"  is  Mr.  Bur- 
roughs's  capital  description  of  the  Winter  Wren. 
All  too  seldom  do  we  hear  this  "  sweet,  wild 
melody,"  instinct  with  that  indefinable  yet  elo- 
quent message  straight  from  the  soul  of  Nature. 
Fortunate  indeed  is  the  listener  whose  heart  can 
receive  that  message!  Yet  it  is  heard  by  too  few 
who  could  really  heed  it,  because  the  singer  comes 
infrequently  within  the  hearing  of  those  whose 
ears  are  properly  attuned. 

The  bird's  northern  migration  in  April  takes 
it  into  the  depths  of  the  Canadian  wilderness 
and  swamps,  though  it  may  be  found  breeding 
in  stich  surroundings  in  northern  Massachusetts 
and  southern  New  Hampshire  and  Vermont,  in 
the  Catskills  and  in  northern  New  York  and  in 
the  northern  part  of  the  lower  peninsula  of 
Michigan.  Mr  Hoffmann  describes  the  song  as 
"  long  and  high,  in  two  eqtially  balanced  parts, 
the  first  ending  in  a  contralto  trill,  the  second  in 
a  very  high  trill ;  after  a  little  interval  the  song 
is  repeated  or  answered."  Thoreau  likened  the 
song  of  a  bird  he  failed  to  identify,  to  "  a  fine 
corkscrew  stream  issuing  with  incessant  lisping 
tinkle  from  a  cork,  flowing  rapidly,  and  I  said 
that  he  had  pulled  out  the  spile  and  left  it  run- 
ning." And  this  probably  was  the  song  of  the 
\\'inter  ^^'ren. 

The  bird  somewhat  resembles  the  House  \\'ren. 


though  it  is  about  an  inch  shorter,  this  abbre- 
viation being  especially  noticeable  in  the  Winter 
Wren's  tail,  which  it  holds  up.  Wren-fashion, 
over  its  back  but  tipped  even  further  forward 
than  are  those  of  his  relatives.  Another  dis- 
tinguishing mark  is  the  brownish-buffy  line  over 
the  W'inter  Wren's  eye,  which  the  House  Wren 
lacks.  Again,  the  Winter  Wren  sings  almost 
invariably  from  a  low  perch  on  a  dead  limb,  or 
sometimes  even  when  hidden  in  a  brush-heap  or 
in  dense  undergrowth.  Apparently,  as  Mr.  Tor- 
rey  said,  he  believes  that  little  birds  should  be 
heard  and  not  seen. 

Two  regional  varieties  of  the  Winter  Wren 
are  the  W^estern  Winter  Wren  {Naiiuits  hicmalis 
pacificus),  found  in  western  North  America, 
breeding  from  Alaska  south  to  central  California 
and  northern  Colorado  and  wintering  from  south- 
ern British  Columbia  to  southern  California  and 
southern  New  Mexico,  and  the  Kodiak  Winter 
Wren  (Nauiiiis  hiciualis  hcJIcri).  found  on  the 
island  of  that  name.  Roth  are  larger  and  darker 
than  the  eastern  form. 

The  Alaska  \\'ren  (Nannus  alascciisis)  and 
the  Aleutian,  or  Attn,  Wren  (Nannus  uicligcr) 
are  closely  allied  to  the  Winter  \\'rens.  Thev 
average  larger  and  their  coloration  is  paler  and 
duller.  The  Alaska  Wren  is  found  in  the  west- 
ern part  of  the  Alaska  peninsula  and  the  islands 
off  the  coast  while  the  Aleutian  is  confined  to  the 
western  islands  of  the  group  of  that  name. 


SHORT-BILLED 
Cistothorus   Stella 

A.   O.  U.    Number  7^4 

Other  Names. —  Fresh-water  Marsh  Wren;  Meadow 
Wren  ;  Grass  Wren. 

General  Description. —  Length.  4'  j  inches.  Upper 
parts,  black,  pale  brown,  and  whitish  in  streaks  ;  under 
parts,  white  and  cinnamon-buff.  Bill,  much  shorter 
than  head,  rather  stout,  nearly  straight ;  wings,  short 
and  rounded ;  tail  nearly  as  long  as  wing,  graduated 
for  2/5  its  length,  the  feathers  narrow,  tapering  toward 
the  end  but  with  rounded  tip. 


MARSH  WREN 

ris    i  A^aitmann) 

See  Color  Plate  lo.- 

Color. —  Croien.  streaked  with  black  and  light  brown, 
except  on  forehead,  which  is  sometimes  uniform  brown  ; 
hindneck  li.ght  brown  ;  hack  and  shoiddcrs.  black,  nar- 
rowly streaked  with  brownish-white ;  rump,  light  bufify- 
brown  or  cinnamon-brown,  streaked  or  otherwise 
varie.gated,  chiefly  along  central  line,  with  black  and 
whitish  ;  upper  tail-coverts,  light  brown,  barred  with 
black  and  tipped  with  dull  whitish ;  tail,  barred  with 
black  and  light  grayish-brown  in  varying  relative  pro- 


196 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


portions ;  wing-coverts,  pale  buffy-brown,  barred  or 
transversely  spotted  with  blackish ;  secondaries  and  pri- 
maries, dusky,  their  outer  webs  with  broad  marginal 
spots  of  pale  buffy-brown  producing  broad  bands  on 
closed  Vi'ing ;  sides  of  head,  pale  brownish-buiif  or  dull 
brownish-white,  iivdistinctly  streaked  with  darker; 
check  region,  chin,  throat,  breast,  and  abdomen  zt'hite 
(slightly  dull  or  biiffy)  ;  chest,  sides,  flanks,  and  under 
tail-coverts  cinnamon-buff. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest  ;  On  or  close  to  the  ground,  in 
a  tussock  of  marsh  grass,  the  tops  of  which  are  deftly 
and   closely   woven   together   forming   roof   and   sides ; 


construction  similar  to  the  Long-billed  Marsh  Wren's, 
but  shape  less  clearly  defined  because  of  its  location; 
lining  made  of  finer  grass,  cat-tail  down,  and  some 
feathers.  Eggs:  6  to  8,  pure  white,  unmarked;  rarely 
with  a  few  lavender  marks. 

Distribution.— Eastern  North  America;  breeds 
from  southeastern  Saskatchewan,  southern  Keewatin, 
southern  Ontario,  and  southern  Maine  south  to  eastern 
Kansas,  central  Missouri,  central  Indiana,  and  northern 
Delaware;  winters  from  southern  Illinois  and  southern 
New  Jersey  to  southern  Te.xas,  Louisiana,  and  Florida; 
accidental  in  Colorado. 


The  curious  habit  —  if  it  may  correctly  be 
termed  a  habit  —  of  building  more  than  one 
nest,  but  using  only  one,  which  seems  to 
be  a  trait  of  the  Wren  family  —  and  of 
other  species  as  well  —  appears  to  be  quite 
strongly  developed  in  this  little  bird.  That  very 
common  type  of  observer  who  is  quick  to 
account  for  the  actions  of  wild  creatures,  by 
ascribing  them  to  distinctively  human  mental 
operations,  explains  this  particular  performance' 
by  attributing  it  to  "  strategic  ability  "  in  the  ani- 
mal concerned.  This  implies  the  possession  and 
exercise  by  the  animal  of  the  reasoning  power, 
in  fact  of  actual  subtlety,  in  a  degree  which  none 
of  its  other  observed  acts  indicate.  Much  more 
sensible  explanations  of  such  acts  are  that  they 
are  due  to  indecision  or  forgetfulness  or  sheer 
stupidity.     In  some  instances  the  building  of  a 


Drawing  by  R.  I.  Brasher 

SHORT-BILLED  MARSH  WREN 


its  ability  to  scamper  through  grass  and  brush  and 
to  elude  the  sharpest  eye 


NEST  OF  SHORT-BILLED  MARSH  WREN 

second  nest  and  the  desertion  of  the  first  may 
mean  that  the  bird  discovered  something  unde- 
sirable about  the  situation  of  the  first  one.  But 
what  is  to  be  said  of  the  Phwhe,  for  example,  who 
was  industriously  building  at  the  same  time  three 
nests  within  two  or  three  feet  of  one  another  on 
the  same  beam  under  a  porch,  and  doubtless 
would  have  persisted  in  this  superfluous  labor 
had  not  her  attention  been  concentrated  on  one 
of  the  nests  by  the  placing  of  stones  over  the 
other  two.  This  may  have  been  an  atteinpt  at 
])rofound  strategy,  but  common  sense  prompts 
the  explanation  that  it  reflected  downright 
stupidity. 

As  to  this  |j;irticiilar  \\'ren's  needless  nest 
building,  we  certainly  have  no  good  reason  to 
suppose  that  it  bespeaks  a  strategical  faculty,  or 
anything  of  the  kind.  If  the  Phcebe  was  so 
forgetful  as  to  build  three  nests  in  plain  sight, 
and  within  a  few  feet  of  one  another,  an  equal 
degree  of  forgetfulness  might  easily  overtake  a 
^^'ren,  building  in  a  uniform  growth  of  marsh- 
grass  and  reeds  so  dense  that  nests  might  be  com- 
pletely concealed  from  each  other  thotigh  they 
were  placed  only  a  few  yards  apart 

There   are,   however,  certain   facts   about  the 


WRENS 


197 


ne»t-building  and  other  habits  of  this  Wren 
which  are  both  significant  and  interesting.  In 
the  first  place,  it  is  much  more  hkely  to  be  heard 
than  seen,  for  it  is  nothing  short  of  mouse-like 
in  its  abihty  to  scamper  around  through  the  grass 
or  brush,  and  elude  even  the  sharpest  and  most 
practiced  eye.  Again,  though  it  usually  places 
its  nest  in  marshy  land,  the  globular  structure  is 
seldom  built  directly  over  the  water,  as  that  of 
the  Long-billed  species  is  likely  to  be.  The 
entrance  to  the  nest  is  at  the  side,  hut  it  is  usually 
almost  completely  concealed. 


As  its  name  implies,  its  bill  is  shorter  than  that 
of  its  near  relative,  from  whom  it  may  also  be 
distinguished  by  its  striped  head  and  upper  back, 
and  by  its  lack  of  a  white  line  over  the  eve.  Like 
the  Long-billed  bird,  it  clings  to  grass  and  reed 
stalks  in  a  position  as  nearly  upright  as  it  can 
assume,  and  with  its  tail  cocked.  Wren-like,  over 
its  back.  Its  song,  however,  though  voluble  and 
delivered  with  the  rapidity  characteristic  of  its 
family,  is  composed  of  notes  which  are  more 
sibilant  and  Sparrow-like  than  are  those  of  other 
Wrens. 


LONG-BILLED  MARSH  WREN 
Telmatodytes  palustris  palustris  (  JJ'ilsnii) 

A     O.    U.    Number   725       See   Color    Plate    loj 


Other  Names. —  Marsh  Wren  ;  Reed  Wren  :  Cat-tail 
Wren  :  Salt-water  Marsh  Wren. 

General  Description. —  Length,  5  inches.  Upper 
parts,  brown  and  black  with  white  streaks ;  under 
parts,  white  and  pale  brown.  Bill,  shorter  than  head, 
slender,  gently  curved  for  most  of  its  length:  wings, 
moderate  in  length  and  much  rounded  ;  tail,  nearly  as 
long  as  wing,  much  rounded,  the  feathers  not  tapering 
and  with  broadly  rounded  tips. 

Color. —  Crown,  dull  black,  brownish  centrally,  usu- 
ally with  a  broad  and  distinct  though  never  sharply 
defined  center  area  of  olive-brown  on  forehead  and 
crown,  occasionally  continued  to  the  hindneck ;  hind- 
neck,  mostly  plain  brown  ;  back,  black,  strcakrcl  with 
ivhitc :  shoulders,  rump,  and  upper  tail-coverts,  plain 
brown ;  lesser  and  middle  wing-coverts  plain  brown  : 
greater  coverts,  brown,  barred  with  dusky;  oz'cr  the  eye. 
a  narrow  stripe  of  zvhite  narrozvly  streaked  with  black- 
ish and  extending  to  the  edges  of  the  back  of  the  liead  : 
back  of  the  eye,  a  dusky  streak;  cheek  region  and 
tinder  parts,  dull  Xi'hite,  passinii  on  sides  and  flanks  into 
pale  broken,  the  chest  usually  faintly  tinged  with  the 
same,  the  sides  and  flanks  sometimes  speckled  or  indis- 
tinctly barred  with  darker  brown  or  dusky;  iris,  brown. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest:  .A.  remarkable  coconut- 
.shaped  structure  of  interwoven  reeds,  strongly  fastened 
to  upright  sedges  or  cat-tails,  lined  with  fine  grass  ami 
cat-tail  down,  with  side  entrance  and  nearly  waterproof. 
Eggs  :  5  to  9,  chocolate,  generally  sprinkled  with 
deeper  colored  specks  and  spots. 

Distribution. —  Eastern  United  States,  chiefly  east  of 
the  .Mlegheny  Mountains  ;  north  to  Massachusetts  and 
New  York;   west  to  western  New  York  and   Pennsyl- 


vania ;  breeds  southward  to  the  Potomac  valley  and 
.'\tlantic  coast  of  Maryland  and  Virginia;  in  winter 
southward  to  North  and  South  Carolina,  occasionally  to 
western  Florida,  occasionally  wintering  in  northern 
portions  of  its  range. 


K.  Job  Courtesy  of  Outing  Pub.  Co. 

LONG-BILLED  MARSH  WREN 
At  its  nest  with  food  for  its  babies 


The  canoeist  who  paddles  or  drifts  quictiv  and 
.slowly  along  some  sluggish  river,  bordered  hv 
broad  meadow  marshes,   mav  catch   sight   of  a 


nervous  little  brown  bird  hanging  to  the  stems  or 
leaves  of  rushes,  reeds,  or  cat-tails  along  the 
margin    and    regarding   him    with   alert,    appre- 


BIRDS   OF    AMERICA 


ht-nsive  curiosity.  This  is  the  Long-billed  Marsh 
Wren,  which  may  be  known  by  its  long,  slender 
bill  and  a  Wren-like  habit  of  flirting  and  cock- 
ing up  the  tail  when  excited. 

This  \\'ren  is  fond  of  the  deep  and  oozv  marsh, 
near  slow-running  streams  or  dark,  swampy  pools 


■ing  by  R.  I.  Brasher 

LONG-BILLED  MARSH  WREN  (3  nat.  size) 
An  irrepressible  songster  and  wonderful  architect 

while  the  smaller  Short-billed  Marsh  Wren  pre- 
fers merely  moist,  grassy,  or  reedy  meadows. 

Marsh  Wrens,  like  other  Wrens,  are  irrepres- 
sible songsters.  They  are  not  satisfied  with  day- 
light singing  alone  but  often  carol  at  night.  Some- 
times when  the  full  moon  lights  up  the  marshes 
the  singing  of  the  Wrens  becomes  almost  a  con- 
tinuous performance,  ringing  over  the  meadows 
far  and  near.  This  bird  breeds  abundantly  in 
fresh-water  marshes  and  open  swamps  and  may 
be  found  frequently  in  salt  marshes  and  along  the 
shores   of  tidal   streams.     The   unique  globular 


nests  are  hung  concealed  in  the  marsh  vegetation 
or  even  attached  to  some  shrub  growing  over  the 
water,  and  with  Wren-like  industry  a  pair  often 
constructs  several  nests.  \'arious  theories  have 
been  offered  to  account  for  this  habit.  One  is 
that  the  Wren  forsakes  its  nest  the  moment  it  has 
been  disturbed  or  even  touched  by  human  hands. 
Samuels  and  others  have  opined  that  duplicate 
nests  are  built  to  protect  the  sitting  female,  for 
it  is  noticeable  that  the  male  often  lures  a  visitor 
to  one  of  the  empty  nests  which,  numerous  as 
they  often  are  in  the  marsh,  may  puzzle  water 
snakes  and  other  enemies  searching  for  eggs  and 
young  birds.  Others  believe  that  the  male,  being 
full  of  vigor  and  vitality,  must  work  ofT  his 
nervousness  in  some  manner  and  so  occupies 
himself  in  nest-building.  Excessive  nest  con- 
struction is  characteristic  of  other  W^rens  also. 
Notwithstanding  the  fact  that  the  Marsh  \\'ren 
is  a  common  bird  in  many  suitable  localities,  the 
inaccessibility  of  its  retreats,  its  shyness,  and  the 
facility  with  which  it  keeps  under  cover  have 
made  observation  of  its  habits  exceedingly  diffi- 
cult and  they  are  very  little  known.  It  has  been 
seen,  however,  to  attack  and  perforate  the  eggs 
of  Ritterns,  but  this  may  be  only  a  necessary  re- 
taliation, as  Bitterns  and  Herons  have  been 
known  to  kill  and  eat  the  young  of  smaller  birds. 
Edward  Howe  Forbush. 

The  Long-billed  Marsh  Wren  and  its  regional 
varieties  are  distributed  over  the  United  States 
and  southern  Canada  and  south  into  Mexico  in 
winter.  On  the  Great  Plains  and  prairie  districts, 
where  it  is  slightly  larger  and  redder  in  colora- 
tion, it  is  known  as  the  Prairie  Marsh  Wren 
(  Tchnatodytcs  palustris  iUacus)  ;  on  the  Rocky 
Mountain  plateau  its  coloration  is  paler  and  it  is 
called  the  Western  Marsh  Wren  (Telniatodytes 
palustris  plcsius)  ;  in  the  Pacific  coast  district 
the  markings  vary  slightly  and  it  is  known  as  the 
Tule  WVen  or  California  Marsh  \\'ren  {Tchna- 
todytcs palustris  pahidicola)  ;  along  the  south  At- 
lantic coast  are  two  forms  with  markings  a 
little  ditTerent  from  the  others  and  from  each 
other  and  these  are  given  the  names  of  Marian's 
Marsh  Wren  (Tchnatodytcs  palustris  marianic), 
and  \\''orthington's  Marsh  Wren  (Tchnatodytcs 
palustris  griseus). 


NUTHATCHES  AND  CREEPERS 


199 


NUTHATCHES    AND    CREEPERS 

Order  Passcrcs:  suborder  Osciiics:  families  Siitidcc  and  Ccrthiida: 


UTHATCHES  are  small  birds  which  are  ranked  as  Osciiics,  that  is  "  song 
birds,"  by  the  ornithologist,  because  they  have  vocal  organs,  though  none 
are  real  singers.  The  characteristic  Nuthatch  has  a  straight  bill,  nearly  as 
long  as  its  head;  long  and  rather  pointed  wings;  and  tail  from  much  less  than 
to  a  little  more  than  half  as  long  as  the  wing,  rounded  at  the  tip.  They  are 
generally  plain  bluish-gray  or  brownish-gray  above,  and  white,  buff,  or  brownish 
beneath.  In  general  structure  and  habits  they  occupy  an  intermediate  posi- 
tion between  the  Creepers,  and  the  Titmice,  but  they  differ  much  from  the 
latter  in  being  perhaps  the  most  expert  climbers  among  birds,  as  they  run 
nimbly  up  and  down  the  trunk  of  a  tree  or  the  face  of  a  cliff  or  stone  wall, 
often  head  downward,  which  the  Woodpeckers  and  Creepers  are  unable  to  do. 

The  family  comprises  nearly  40  known  species  and  subspecies.       The  family  is  chiefly  an 

Old  World  one,  only  four  species  being  represented  in  America. 

The  Creepers  are  found  in  the  northern  hemisphere  and  in  Australia.     There  are  five 

families;  but  only  one,  the  Ccrtliiidcr,  is  represented  in  America. 


BROWN  CREEPER 


Certhia  familiaris  americana  Bonaparte 

A.    O.   U.   Number  7j6       See  Color   Plate   ic 


Other  Names. —  Common  Creeper :  .American 
Creeper:  .American  Brown  Creeper;  Tree  Creeper; 
Little  Brown  Creeper. 

General  Description. —  Length.  53.4  inches.  Upper 
parts,  brown  with  streaks  of  grayish-white;  under 
parts,  dull  white.  Bill,  slender,  sharp,  and  curved 
downward ;  wings,  moderate  in  length,  rounded ;  tail, 
about  length  of  wing,  graduated,  the  feathers  with 
rigid  and  sharp  tips. 

Color. —  General  color  above,  sepia  or  bister-brown 
(varying  in  intensity)  relieved  by  conspicuous  streaks 
of  dull  grayish-white,  these  broader  and  less  sharply 
defined  on  the  back,  the  prevailing  color  of  the  lower 
back  being  pale  brownish-gray  or  grayish-brown;  rump, 
russet  or  dull  tawny-ochraceous ;  upper  tail-coverts, 
pale  raw  umber-brown;  tail,  pale  grayish-brown  (nearly 
hair-brown);  lesser  wing-coverts  pale  brownish-gray; 
rest  of  wings,  mainly  dark  sepia  brown  or  dusky;  the 
outer  webs  of  greater  coverts,  broadly  tipped  with 
whitish  and  broadly  edged  toward  base  with  pale  bufTy 
grayish ;  primaries  crossed,  obliquely,  on  both  webs  by 


a  broad  band  of  pale  buff  or  buflfy  white;  a  dull  whitish 
or  pale  brownish-gray  strip  over  the  eye ;  lores  and 
car  region  dark  sepia  brown,  streaked  with  dull  whitish  ; 
space  under  the  eyes,  cheeks,  and  under  parts,  plain  dull 
white. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest:  A  collection  of  twigs, 
cottony  fibers,  bark  strips  and  feathers,  placed  behind 
a  loosened  section  of  bark,  nearly  always  in  a  balsam 
fir  tree.  Eggs:  5  to  8,  white  or  creamy  freckled  with 
cinnamon  and  lavender  specks,  often  wreathed  around 
large  end. 

Distribution. —  Eastern  North  America ;  north  to 
Ontario.  Manitoba,  etc.  (probably  to  southern  Labrador 
and  southwestern  shores  of  Hudson  Bay),  west  to 
eastern  portion  of  the  Great  Plains;  breeding  south- 
ward to  Massachusetts,  New  York,  northern  Indiana, 
southeastern  South  Dakota,  and  southeastern  Missouri 
and  along  higher  Alleghenies  to  mountains  of  North 
Carolina  (above  4000  feet)  ;  wintering  over  a  large  part 
of  its  breeding  range  and  sontli  to  northern  F'lorida 
and  central  Texas. 


This  is  a  rather  characterless  and  uninterest- 
ing l)ird,  with  neutral  plumage  and  somewhat 
monotonous  habits.  Alighting  near  the  base  of 
a  tree,  it  hitches  its  way  upward,  generally  in 
a  spiral  course,  examining  the  crevices  in  the 
bark  with  its  long,  slender,  and  curved  bill,  and 
uttering  meanwhile  a  faint  lisping  call.     Its  bill 


is  so  weak  that  it  does  not  attempt  actually  to  dig, 
as  do  the  Woodpeckers ;  it  simply  searches  for 
insects  concealed  in  crevices  or  tinderneath  the 
bark  which  becomes  separated  from  the  main 
growth. 

The    Tree    Creeper    somewliat    resembles    the 
yutbatcbes    in    its   habits,   but    climbs    only    up- 


200 


BIRDS    OF   AMERICA 


ward  or  at  least  in  an  upright  position.  From 
one-half  or  two-thirds  of  the  way  up  a  tree,  it  is 
likely  to  swoop  down  to  the  base  of  another  one 
nearby,  only  to  go  through  the  same  operation. 


Drawing  by  R.  Bruce  Horsfall 

BROWN  CREEPER  (nat.  i 


It  may  readily  be  identified  by  these  characteris- 
tics, plus  the  peculiarities  that  it  has  a  noticeably 
long  graduated  tail,  nearly  or  quite  as  long  as 
the  wing,  with  the  feathers  stiffened  and  pointed 
at  the  end,  and  that  it  clings  closely  to  the  bark. 

William  Brewster  says  that  in  its  breeding 
ground  in  the  Canadian  forests  it  has  a  sweet  song 
of  four  notes,  the  last  of  which  dies  away  "  in 
an  indescribably  plaintive  cadence,  like  the  soft 
sigh  of  the  wind  among  the  pine  boughs  " ;  but 
this  utterance  is  seldom  heard  during  its  migra- 
tion through  the  United  States.  Mr.  Burroughs 
has  heard  it  in  Ulster  county,  N.  Y.,  in  March. 

The  food  of  the  Brown  Creeper  consists  of 
minute  insects  and  insects'  eggs,  also  cocoons  of 
tineid  moths,  small  wasps,  ants,  and  bugs,  es- 
pecially scales  and  plant  lice,  with  some  small 
caterpillars.  As  it  remains  in  the  United  States 
throughout  the  year,  it  naturally  secures  hiber- 
nating insects  and  insects'  eggs,  as  well  as  spiders 
and  spiders'  eggs,  that  are  missed  by  the  summer 
birds.  On  its  bill  of  fare  we  find  no  product  of 
husbandry  nor  any  useful  insects. 

There  are  four  other  members  of  this  same 
Creeper  family  in  North  America.  They  vary 
but  little  from  the  familiar  Brown  Creeper  and 
from  one  another.  The  Mexican,  or  Sierra 
Madre,  Creeper  (Ccrfhia  fainiliarts  albescens) 
belongs  in  the  mountains  of  Mexico  as  its  name 
implies,  but  is  also  foimd  north  into  southern 
Arizona.  The  Rocky  Moimtain  Creeper  (Ccrthia 
fainiliaris  montana)  lives  in  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains from  Alaska,  central  British  Columbia,  and 
central  Alberta,  south  to  Arizona  and  New 
Mexico ;  in  winters  it  may  be  found  in  south- 
eastern California  and  probably  in  Mexico.  The 
Sierra,  formerly  known  as  the  California, 
Creeper  (Ccrth'ta  faniiliaris  zelofcs)  is  found 
from  the  Cascade  Mountains  of  Oregon  and  the 
Sierra  Nevada  of  California  south  to  the  San 
Jacinto  Mountains  and  in  the  winter  in  the  ad- 
jacent valleys.  The  California,  formerly  known 
as  the  Tawny  Creeper  (Certhia  fainiliaris  occi- 
dcntalis),  occurs  on  the  Pacific  coast  from  Sitka, 
Alaska,  to  the  Santa  Cruz  Mountains,  California. 


WHITE-BREASTED  NUTHATCH 
Sitta  carolinensis  carolinensis  Latliam 

A.    n.    U.    Number   727       See   Color    Plate    lo,! 


Other  Names. —  White-bellied  Nuthatch ;  Carolina 
Nuthatch;  Common  Nuthatch;  Sapsucker  (incorrect); 
Tree-Mouse ;  Devil  Downhead. 


General     Dfescription. —  Length.    6     inches.      Upper 
parts,  bhiish-gray  and  black;  under  parts,  white. 

Color. —  Crown,  hindneck,   and   extreme  upper  back, 


Plate   103 


CHICKADEE 
Penthcstes  nlricainllus  atnmpillus  (r.iiinHc 


RED-BREASTED  NUTHATCH 
■■iilla  ni;iu<;.7i.sis  Linn:iiMiH 


NUTHATCHES  AND  CREEPERS 


20 1 


uniform  black  with  a  bluish  or  bluish  green  gloss; 
back,  shoulders,  lesser  wing-coverts,  rump,  and  upper 
tail-coverts,  uniform  bluish-gray  :  middle,  greater,  and 
primary  wing-coverts,  black  margined  with  bluish-gray 
(like  color  of  back),  the  tips  of  the  greater  coverts, 
sometimes  whitish  forming  a  narrow  indistinct  band; 
inner  wing-quills  with  inner  webs  black ;  their  outer 
webs  bluish-yniy :  that  of  third  with  an  elongated  patch 
of  black,  rounded  at  til^.  the  tip  and  edge  bluish-gray; 
secondaries,  black,  edged  with  bluish-gray ;  primaries 
blackish  slate  or  slate  color;  two  middle  tail-feathers, 
plain  bluish-gray,  rest  of  tail-feathers,  black  crossed  by 
a  band  of  white;  a  stripe  over  the  eyes,  sides  of  head, 
sides  of  neck,  and  under  parts,  plain  white  or  grayish- 


The  Nuthatches  and  Chickadees  one  may 
reckon  among  the  comparatively  few  "  upside- 
down  birds  "  he  has  known,  and  it  is  a  curious 
fact  that,  thou.e;h  they  are  totally  ditYerent 
species,  thev  seem  to  like  one  another's  society, 
and  frequently  are  found  working  and  frolicking 
through  the  woods  together.     A  bond  of   sy in- 


white;  anal  region  and  tail-coverts,  light  chestnut; 
under  wing-coverts,  black;  under  primary  coverts  and 
basal  portion  of  inner  webs  of  longer  primaries,  white 
forming  a  conspicuous  patch;   iris,  brown. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest  :  Usually  in  a  dead  stump 
or  tree  from  2  to  60  feet  up.  sometimes  in  a  deserted 
Woodpecker  hole;  loosely  constructed  of  soft  felted 
rabbits'  fur,  leaves,  feathers,  and  hair.  Eggs  :  5  to  8. 
white  or  pinkish-white,  spotted  with  chestnut  and  a 
few  lavender  specks. 

Distribution. —  Eastern  North  America;  north  to 
New  Brunswick  and  northern  Ontario  ;  west  to  eastern 
edge  of  Great  Plains;  south  to  Georgia  and  Gulf  States 
(e.xcept  coast  belt). 


clambers  entirely  around  a  horizontal  limb.  The 
evident  ease  with  which  it  assumes  the  inverted 
position  is  due  chiefly  to  its  lack  of  dependence 
upon  its  tail-feathers,  which  the  true  Wood- 
]:)ecker  alwavs  emplovs  as  a  Jirop,  and  bv  means 
of  which  it  holds  its  body  at  a  perceptible  angle 
from  the  line  of  the  limb  or  tree  trunk  to  which 


Courtesy  of  An 
WHITE-BREASTED  NUTHATCH 
A  bird  of  topsy-tiirvy  habits 


pathy  may  be  detected  in  their  common  topsy- 
turvy habits.  It  is  clear  that  temperamentally 
the  birds  are  similar,  and  that  the  Nuthatch  is 
as  much  a  small  buy  of  the  feathered  world  as  is 
the  Chickadee,  thou.gh  perhaps  a  somewhat  more 
serious-minded  one. 

The  \\'hite-breasted  species  is  much  the  com- 
moner rejiresentative  of  the  two  which  occur  in 
the  eastern  United  States  —  the  other  being  the 
Red-breasted.  It  is  a  common  winter  resident 
in  the  southern  New  England  States,  and  in  the 
lower  Hudson  Valley.  It  prefers  the  deciduous 
trees  to  the  conifers  and  in  that  respect  differs 
from  the  Red-breasted,  .^s  has  been  intimated, 
it  is  a  decidedly  industrious  l)ird  anrl  is  almost 
incessantly  on  the  move.  It  is  fpiite  as  likely  to 
be  upside  down  as  right  side  up  while  it  ex- 
plores the  trunk  and  limbs  of  a  tree,  and  it  often 


it  clings.  In  this  position  the  Woodpecker  can 
strike  with  its  bill  a  much  harder  blow  than 
can  be  delivered  by  the  Nuthatch,  which  makes 
little  use  of  its  tail  either  in  climbing  or  in  dig- 
ging. Consequently  the  Nuthatch's  bill  is  long, 
pointed,  and  rather  slender,  while  the  \\'ood- 
pecker's  is  stout  and  wedge-shaped  at  the  ex- 
tremity. 

The  term  "  sapsucker,"  which  is  often  applied 
to  this  bird,  is  an  unconscious  but  unqualified 
slander,  due  of  course  to  ignorance.  The  true 
Sapsucker  is  a  totally  different  bird,  and  does 
not  even  faintly  resemble  the  Nuthatches.  Prob- 
ably this  confusion  arose  from  the  fact  that  both 
the  Downv  Woodpecker,  which  is  about  the  size 
of  the  Nuthatch,  though  its  appearance  is  very 
different,  and  the  Hairy,  which  resembles  the 
Downy  but  is  considerablv  larger,  dig  holes  in 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


the  bark  of  trees,  thoujjh  not  for  the  purpose  of 
drinking  sap.  This  habit  lias  caused  careless 
observers  —  of  which  there  is  always  a  bounti- 
ful supply  —  to  blame  not  only  the  Hairy  and 
the  Downy,  but  even  the  little  Nuthatch,  which 
does  not  and  could  not  dig  holes  in  bark,  for  the 
destructive  work  of  the  true  Sapsucker.  In 
point  of  fact,  all  of  the  work  which  the  Nut- 
hatch does  on  the  trees  is  highly  useful,  since  it 


Drawing  by  R.  I.  Brasher 

WHITE-BREASTED  NUTHATCH   (l  nat.  size) 

nd  branches 

consists  in  ridding  them  of  injurious  insects  and 
larvae.  For  these  it  searches  the  crevices  of  the 
bark  with  its  sharp  bill.  The  bird  also  often 
forces  into  such  crevices  soft-shelled  nuts,  like 
the  acorn  or  chestnut,  sometimes  for  safe-keep- 
ing, or  again  in  order  to  have  them  in  a  position 
in  which  it  may  break  the  shell  with  its  compara- 
tively weak  bill.  The  notion  that  the  Nuthatch 
can  break  the  shells  of  hard  nuts  like  the  hickory- 
nut  or  the  walnut,  is.  of  course,  an  entirely  mis- 
taken one,  and  to  that  extent  the  bird's  name  is 
misleading. 


The  Nuthatch's  "  song  "  is  a  series  of  short 
notes  resembling  the  syllables  too-too-too,  uttered 
most  frequently  in  the  mating  season ;  but  its 
more  characteristic  and  common  call  note  is  a 
sharp  and  often-repeated  single  syllable,  gener- 
ally transliterated  as  yank  or  ank,  and  usually 
described  as  distinctly  nasal.  Other  observers 
think,  however,  that  this  call  sounds  much  more 
like  the  words  "  part  "  or  "  art,"  —  at  any  rate 
the  consonant  "  r "  is  distinctly  audible  in  it. 
This  note  often  is  rapidly  reiterated,  so  that  the 
effect  is  a  sort  of  chatter,  which  Dr.  Chapman 
describes  as  "  mirthless  laughter." 

One  of  the  Nuthatch's  most  engaging  quali- 
ties is  his  friendly  curiosity.  Stand  or  sit  motion- 
less near  the  base  of  a  tree  in  which  the  bird  is 
working,  and  he  is  almost  certain  to  come  hitch- 
ing down  the  trunk,  head  foremost,  to  gaze 
squarely  into  your  face  with  his  beady  little  black 
eyes  and  inquire  politely  as  to  your  health  and 
whether  all  is  as  it  should  be  with  you.  If  you 
inform  him  quietly  that  you  are  very  well  and 
quite  content  with  your  lot  (being  careful  mean- 
while to  make  no  movement  of  any  kind),  he 
will  express  his  satisfaction  courteously,  apolo- 
gize for  being  so  tremendously  busy,  and  whisk 
away  to  the  next  tree.  George  Gladden. 

The  White-breasted  Nuthatch  gets  its  living 
from  the  trunks  and  branches  of  trees,  over 
which  it  creeps  from  daylight  to  dark.  Insects 
and  spiders  constitute  a  little  more  than  50  per 
cent,  of  its  food.  The  largest  items  of  these 
are  beetles,  moths,  and  caterpillars,  with  ants 
and  wasps.  The  animal  food  is  all  in  the  bird's 
favor  except  a  few  ladybird  beetles.  More  than 
half  of  the  vegetable  food  consists  of  mast  — 
acorns  and  other  nuts  or  large  seeds.  One-tenth 
of  the  food  is  grain,  mostly  waste  corn.  The 
Nuthatch  does  no  known  injury  but  much  good. 

Slightly  varying  forms  of  the  White-breasted 
Nuthatch  are :  the  Florida  Wliite-breasted  Nut- 
hatch {Sitfa  carolincnsis  afkinsi),  found  in 
Florida  and  along  the  Gulf  coast  to  Mississippi; 
the  Slender-billed  Nuthatch  {Sitta  carolincnsis 
acnlcata)  of  the  Pacific  coast  region  from  British 
Columbia  to  northern  Lower  California;  and  the 
Rocky  Mountain,  or  Nelson's,  Nuthatch  (Sitta 
carolincnsis  nelsoni)  which  lives  in  the  moun- 
tain districts  of  western  United  States  and 
British  Columbia  and  northern  Mexico. 


NUTHATCHES  AND  CREEPERS 


203 


RED-BREASTED  NUTHATCH 

Sitta  canadensis  I. i una- us 


Other  Names. —  Red-bellied  Nuthatcli :  Canada  Nut- 
hatch  ;    Sapsucker    (incorrect). 

General  Description. —  Length.  4J4  inches.  Upper 
parts,  blui.sh-gray  and  black ;  under  [)arts.  white  and 
reddish. 

Color. —  Crown,  uniform  black,  with  a  faint  bluish 
gloss;  a  broad  Zi'hitc  stripe  over  the  eyes  (e.xtending 
from  the  sides  of  forehead  to  sides  of  nape,  narrower 
anteriorly);  below  this  a  black  stripe  involving  the 
lores  and  upper  portion  of  ear  regions  and  continued, 
inore  broadly,  over  sides  of  neck;  back,  shoulders, 
rump,  middle  tail-feathers,  upper  tail-coverts,  wing- 
coverts,  and  inner  wing-quills,  uniform  bluish-gray; 
secondaries  and  primaries,  dull  slate  color,  with  gray 
edgings;  tail-feathers  (except  middle  pair),  black 
tipped  with  gray,  the  two  or  three  outermost  with  a 
band  (usually  interrupted)  or  spot  of  white,  both  the 
gray  and  white  most  extensive  on  lateral  tail-feather; 
space  under  the  eye  and  lower  portion  of  ear  regions 
and  lower  part  of  sides  of  neck,  white;  chin  and  upper 
throat,    duller    white,    gradually    deepening    downward 


Set-  (  cilor   IMate   103 

tlirough  pale  bulT  on  lower  throat  to  tatfiiy-buff  or 
reddish-bro'a'ii  on  flanks,  anal  region,  and  shorter  under 
tail-coverts,  the  longer  under  tail-coverts  paler  buff  or 
buffy   white ;    iris,   brown. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Xest  :  In  holes  of  stumps  or 
dead  trees,  preferably  white  birch  or  poplar,  from  4  to 
20  feet  up;  constructed  of  fine  grass  and  pieces  of 
pine  bark.  E(;i;s:  4  to  8,  grayish-white,  thinly  or 
thickly  spotted  with  red-brown  around  large  end. 

Distribution. —  Forest  districts  of  northern  North 
America  and  higher  mountains  of  United  States;  north 
to  Labrador,  Keewatin.  Yukon  district,  and  southern 
Alaska ;  breeding  southward  to  Massachusetts,  New 
York,  Pennsylvania,  northern  Indiana,  northern  Illinois, 
central  Iowa  and  along  the  higher  .'Mleghenies  to  west- 
ern North  Carolina;  in  western  United  States  breeding 
in  spruce  forests  on  higher  mountains  south  to  Colorado 
and  the  Sierra  Nevada,  in  California;  breeding  also  on 
Guadalupe  Island,  Lower  California.  In  winter  south 
to  or  near  the  Gulf  coast  and  to  New  Mexico  and 
Arizona,  probably  to  northern  Mexico. 


The  Red-breasted  Nuthatch,  as  may  be  sup- 
posed, is  disting'uished  from  the  White-breasted 
species  by  the  different  color  of  its  under  parts ; 
other  plumage  pecuharities  which  may  readily 
be  distinguished  are  the  characteristic  black-and- 
white  lines  which  run  from  the  base  of  the  bill 
to  the  back  of  the  head,  the  eve  being  set  in  the 
center  of  the  black  streak  and  just  touching  the 
white  one.  The  bird  is  also  noticeably  smaller 
than  the  White-breasted  and  prefers  the  conifers 
to  the  hardwood  trees  for  feeding  grounds. 

The  Red-breasted  is  perhaps  even  more  active 


and  restless  than  its  larger  relative,  and  rather 
less  friendly  in  its  habits,  probably  because  it 
passes  most  of  its  life  in  the  Canadian  forests, 
and  therefore  sees  comparatively  little  of  human 
beings.  Its  call  note  is  like  that  of  the  White- 
breasted,  but  iisnally  is  pitched  sever;d  tones 
higher;  and  it  has  another  note  which  resembles 
the  syllal)le  lint,  and  may  be  uttered  in  any  of 
several  different  pitches. 

This  Nuthatch  has  a  curious  habit  of  placing 
a  coating  of  fir  balsam  or  pitch  around  the  en- 
trance to  its  nest. 


BROWN-HEADED  NUTHATCH 
Sitta  pusilla  Latliam 

.\     1),   U.    Number   7.-9 


General  Description. —  Length.  4'<  inches.  Upper 
parts,  grayish-blue;  under  parts,  white;  head,  brown. 

Color. —  Entire  crown  and  lateral  portions  of  hind- 
neck,  together  with  upper  half  of  ear  regions,  plain 
light  grayish-brown  ;  central  portion  of  hindneck  white, 
forming  a  conspicuous  spot ;  back,  shoulders,  rump, 
upper  tail-coverts  and  lesser  win.g-coverts.  uniform 
bluish-gray,  the  middle  and  greater  wing-coverts,  inner 
wing-quills,  and  middle  pair  of  tail-feathers  similar  but 
less    bluish-gray ;    secondaries    and    primaries    dull    or 


slate  brownish,  with  pale  gray  edgings ;  tail  ex- 
cept middle  pair  of  tail-feathers)  black,  the  three  outer- 
most feathers  broadly  tipped  ivith  gray,  the  two  outer- 
most crossed  by  a  band  (incomplete)  of  white;  sides 
of  head,  chin,  and  upper  throat  white;  rest  of  under 
parts  white,  usually  tinged  with  buff,  passing  into  light 
bluish-gray  on  sides  and  flanks;  iris,  brown. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest:  Excavated  by  the  birds  in 
deafl  stump  or  tree,  from  i  to  40  feet  up ;  made  of 
small  bits   of  grass,  cotton,  fine  parts  of  pine  needles. 


204 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


wool,  and  feathers.  Eggs  :  5  or  6,  dull  white  or 
creamy  specked  with  shades  of  chestnut  and  lavender- 
gray. 

Distribution. —  Coast     pine     belt     of      southeastern 


United  States,  from  southern  Maryland  and  southern 
Delaware  to  Florida  and  eastern  Texas  northward ; 
irregularly  or  casually,  to  New  York,  Ohio,  southern 
Michigan,  Missouri,  Arkansas,  and  Bahamas. 


All  through  the  pine  woods  of  the  Southern 
States  the  Brown-headed  Nuthatch  is  found.  It 
is  a  diminutive  bird,  beins;  much  smaller  than  the 


Photo  by    1     Ij.  1  i.al   oil         Cu  U^j    ol    \..it      i.=u     VuU    bol. 

NEST  OF  BROWN-HEADED  NUTHATCH 

Florida 

common  and  better-known  \\hite-breasted  Nut- 
hatch. Rarely  is  it  ever  seen  out  of  the  open 
pine  woods.  It  does  not  have  the  habit  of  feed- 
ing along  the  boles  of  trees  like  the  larger  species 


just  referred  to,  but  confines  its  attention  to  such 
insects  and  their  eggs  as  may  be  found  along  the 
higher  branches  or  among  the  cones  and  terminal 
twigs.  The  birds  usually  travel  in  bands,  which 
may  possibly  constitute  the  families  of  the  pre- 
vious year.  In  the  spring  until  the  young  leave 
the  nest  rarely  more  than  two  are  found  to- 
gether. Although  very  small,  these  birds  possess 
wonderful  power  when  it  comes  to  excavating 
their  nesting-holes  in  some  rotten  stump.  Of  the 
hundred  or  more  nests  that  I  have  examined, 
few  were  more  than  twelve  feet  from  the  ground, 
although  in  rare  instances  they  may  be  as  high 
as  forty  feet.  The  entrance  to  the  nest  is  rarely 
round  like  that  of  the  Woodpecker,  and  some- 
times when  the  wood  is  hard  it  looks  more  like 
a  crack  in  the  tree  than  like  the  entrance  to  a 
bird's  nest.  The  hole  is  excavated  to  a  depth  of 
from  five  to  eight  inches,  and  is  abundantly  lined 
with  soft  materials  of  various  kinds;  among 
which  one  will  usually  find  wings  of  the  pine- 
tree  seeds. 

The  bird  possesses  a  characteristic,  but  not 
ofifensive,  musk  with  which  the  entire  nest  is 
scented.  Bv  smelling  in  a  hole  suspected  to  be 
occtipied  bv  the  Brown-headed  Nuthatch,  one  can 
readily  tell  whether  the  bird  has  recently  occupied 
it. 

In  Florida  nest-building  begins  in  March. 
These  birds  appear  to  have  but  few  natural 
enemies,  although  on  one  occasion  I  remember 
looking  into  a  nest  that  contained  a  snake,  which 
I  subseqtiently  discovered  had  swallowed  the 
female  bird.  T.  Gilbert  Pearson. 


Drawing  by  R.  I.  Br.^sher 

EROWN-HEADED  NDTHATCH  (§  nat.  size) 


NUTHATCHES  AND  CREEPERS 


205 


PYGMY  NUTHATCH 
Sitta  pygmaea  pygmasa   J'igors 


General  Description. —  Length.  4'_-  inches.  Upper 
parts,  gray;  under  parts,  white  and  huffy-white. 

Color. —  Crown  and  hindneck.  plain  Hght  grayish- 
olive  or  olive-gray,  the  lower  central  portion  of  the 
latter  with  concealed  portion  of  feathers,  huffy  white 
or  pale  buff;  lores  and  space  back  of  eyes,  blackish  or 
dusky;  back,  shoulders,  wing-coverts  (except  primary 
coverts),  inner  wing-quills,  rump,  upper  tail-coverts, 
and  middle  pair  of  tail-feathers,  plain  deep  bluish-gray, 
the  last  with  a  conspicuous  elongated  patch  of  white; 
rest  of  tail,  black,  the  three  outermost  feathers  tipped 
with  slate  color  (very  broadly  on  outer  one),  the  two 
outer,  on  each  side,  crossed,  obliquely,  by  a  broad  bar 
or  band  of  white;  under  the  eye,  lower  half  of  ear 
regions,  and   cheeks,   chin,  and   upper  throat,  .white  or 


huffy  white;  rest  of  under  parts,  dull  butty  white, 
passing  mto  pale  bluish-gray  on  sides  and  flanks:  iris, 
brown. 

Nest  and  Eggs.—  Nest:  Behind  bark  crevices  or  in 
holes  in  trees,  from  20  feet  up,  usually  in  coniferous 
wood  and  mountainous  sections;  constructed  of 
leathers,  plant  down,  bits  of  wool,  and  animal  fur. 
Kggs:  6  to  9,  crystal  white,  speckled  with  Indian 
red. 

Distribution. —  Mountains  of  western  Nortli  America 
and  Mexico,  in  coniferous  forests:  north  to  British 
Columbia  (Vancouver  Island  and  interior);  south  to 
southern  Mexico ;  east  to  Montana,  Wyoming,  Colo- 
rado and  New  Mexico;  casual  in  South  Dakota  and 
Nebraska. 


If  tlie  Nuthatch  is  the  small  boy  of  the 
feathered  tree-climbers,  the  PyK'ny  's  the  smallest 
and  most  boyish  of  the  "  gang."  Gregarious  and 
good-natured,  he  travels  in  small  but  noisy  flocks 
through  the  woods,  making  a  great  disturbance 
over  the  business  of  getting  something  to  eat,  and 
enjoying  life  meanwhile.  His  companions  may 
be  Chickadees,  other  Nuthatches,  Downies,  King- 
lets, or  even  \\'arb!ers,  but  he  is  always  very 
much  in  evidence  and  has  fully  as  much  to  say  as 
any  of  his  comrades.  Sometimes  he  quarrels 
with  the  Bluebird  when  he  finds  that  gentle  spirit 
in  possession  of  a  nesting  hole  which  he  rather 
fancies,  but  generally  he  is  eminently  good- 
natured  and  not  looking  for  trouble. 

Pygmy  has  the  upside-down  habits  of  his  im- 
mediate relatives,  but  in  an  even  more  pro- 
nounced form,  and  incidentally  is  more  bnli- 
tailed  than  they  are.  In  fact,  his  tail  is  little 
more  than  an  apology  for  a  tail,  and  he  is  not 
in  the  least  dependent  upon  it,  whether  he  is 
going  upstairs  or  down.  Lacking  this  fulcrum  he 
hasn't  the  carpentering  ability  of  the  \\'ond- 
peckers ;  but  he  isn't  in  the  least  averse  to  ham- 
mering, nevertheless,  and  for  such  a  midget  he 
can  strike  quite  a  formidable  blow  when  he  is 
really  in  earnest  about  it.  Like  his  Red-breasted 
cousin  he  does  most  of  his  hunting  in  coniferous 
trees,  and  he  conducts  his  search  with  much 
activity  and  perseverance,  though  it  must  be 
admitted  that  his  operations  seem  rather  hastv 
and  haphazard.  A  Canadian  observer  reports 
that  Pygmy  has  a  curious  habit  of  caulking  with 
hair  holes  and  seams  around  its  nest,  and  some- 
times for  no  apparent  reason,  since  the  caulking 
may  serve  no  necessary  or  useful  purpose. 

The    White-naped    Nuthatch    (Sitta    pxgmcra 


Icuconnclia)  is  larger  than  his  congener,  the 
Pygmy;  es])ecially  is  his  bill  of  greater  jiropor- 
tions.  The  white  spot  on  the  back  of  the  neck 
is  larger;  the  gray  of  the  head  grayer:  .grav  of 


Drawing  by  R.  Bruce  Horsfall 

PYGMY  NUTHATCH 


the  back  less  bluish  ;  and  the  under  parts  less 
strongly  buff.  He  is  found  from  San  Diego 
county,  California,  south  to  San  Pedro  Martir 
Afountains.  Lower  California. 


206 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


TITMICE 

Order  Passercs;  suborder  Osciiics;  family  Paridcr 

HE  Titmouse  family,  which  includes  the  birds  of  that  name,  the  Chickadees 
the  Bush-Tits,  and  the  Verdins,  comprises  several  species  of  small  birds, 
classified  by  systematic  ornithologists  as  "  song  birds  "  (Oscines),  not  neces- 
sarily because  they  can  sing,  but  because  they  have  well-developed  vocal 
organs. 

The  present  group  have  short  cone-shaped  bills,  and  obtuse  tongues  armed 
at  the  tip  with  horny  bristles.  Wings  are  well  developed  and  rounded,  the 
tail  is  usually  about  as  long  as  the  wing  and  slightly  rounded,  and 
the  feathers  are  softer  than  the  stiffened  ones  of  Thrushes  and  Kinglets. 
They  inhabit  the  northern  hemisphere  generally,  and  chiefly  are  arboreal, 
omnivorous,  very  active,  and  essentially  non-migratory.  They  are  far  better 
represented  in  the  Old  World  than  in  the  New.  North  America,  including  Mexico,  possesses 
less  than  30  species  and  subspecies,  and  but  four  genera,  while  about  70  species  and  at  least 
five  genera  belong  to  Arctic,  Indian,  and  African  regions. 

The  plumage  of  the  members  of  this  family  is  never  spotted,  streaked,  or  barred;  plain 
colors  are  the  rule  —  grays,  browns,  and  olives  for  the  upper  parts  and  dull  white  and  grays 
for  the  under  parts.  The  Titmice  may  or  may  not  have  black  on  their  heads ;  the  Chickadees 
always  have  the  crown  and  hindneck  uniform  black  or  brown ;  the  adult  Verdins  have  yellow 
heads;  and  the  Bush-Tits  sometimes  have  the  sides  of  their  heads  black  and,  if  the  general 
color  of  their  upper  parts  is  gray,  their  crowns  are  generally  brownish,  and  if  the  general  color 
is  olive,  their  crowns  are  gray.  The  Titmice  are  crested,  but  the  other  members  of  the  family 
lack  this  adornment. 

Birds  of  the  Titmouse  family,  though  insignificant  in  size,  are  far  from  being  so  in  the 
matter  of  food  habits.  What  they  lack  in  size  of  body  they  more  than  make  up  in  number 
of  individuals.  The  character  of  the  food  of  Titmice  gives  a  peculiar  value  to  their  services, 
for  it  consists  largely  of  the  small  insects  and  their  eggs  that  wholly  escape  the  search  of 
larger  birds.  Throughout  the  year  most  of  the  species  of  this  group  remain  on  their  range, 
so  that  they  are  constantly  engaged  in  their  beneficial  work,  continuing  it  in  winter  when 
the  majority  of  their  co-workers  have  sought  a  milder  clime.  It  is  at  this  season  that  the 
Titmice  do  their  greatest  good ;for,  when  flying  and  crawling  insects  are  no  more  to  be  found, 
the  birds  must  feed  upon  such  species  as  they  find  hibernating  in  crevices,  or  upon  the  eggs 
of  insects  laid  in  similar  places. 


TUFTED   TITMOUSE 
Baeolophus  bicolor  ( Linmcus) 

A-    n.    U.    Number   731        See   Color   Plate    103 


Other  Names. — -Tufted  Tit;  Tufted  Chickadee: 
Crested  Titmouse ;  Peto  Bird ;  Crested  Tomtit. 

General  Description. —  Length,  6  inches.  Upper 
parts,  slate-gray;  under  parts,  wliite  and  reddish.  Bill, 
short  and  stout;  wings,  long  and  rounded;  tail,  shorter 
than  wing,  slightly  rounded ;  head,  with  crest. 

Color. —  Forehead,  black  or  sooty  black,  margined 
posteriorly  with  sooty  brown;  rest  of  upper  parts,  plain 
slate-gray;  eye  region,  dull  white;  ear  region,  pale 
gray ;  cheek  region  and  under  parts,  dull  white,  passing 
on  sides  and  flanks  into  light  cinnamon-rufous :  iris, 
brown. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest  :    Usually  in  deserted  Wood- 


pecker holes  or  hollow  stumps  ;  a  collection  of  moss, 
leaves,  bark  strips,  and  horse-  and  cattle-hair.  Eggs  : 
From  5  to  8,  white,  thickly  spotted  with  reddish-brown. 
Distribution. —  Eastern  United  States  ;  north,  regu- 
larly, to  soutliern  Pennsylvania  and  New  Jersey,  central 
Ohio,  northern  Indiana,  northern  Illinois,  southern 
Iowa,  and  northeastern  Nebraska  ;  irregularly  or  casu- 
ally to  Connecticut,  southern  New  York  (Long  Island, 
Staten  Island)  extreme  northern  portions  of  Indiana 
and  Illinois,  and  southern  Minnesota ;  west  to  eastern 
portion  of  the  Great  Plains;  south  to  the  Gulf  coast, 
including  south-central  F'lorida  and  eastern  and  central 
Texas. 


TITMICE 


207 


The  Tufted  Titmouse  is  more  common  in  the 
South  and  \\'est  than  his  cousin,  the  L'hiekadee. 
and  he  is  (ine  of  the  prettiest  of  the  family.  He 
is  dressed  in  soft  gray,  with  a  tine,  showy,  pointed 
crest.  His  ways  are  something  like  the  Chicka- 
dee's, but  he  is,  perhaps,  even  bolder  and  more 
pert,  and  he  is  easily  tamed.  All  his  notes  are 
loud  and  clear,  and  he  is  never  for  a  moment 
still. 

In  winter,  this  bird  is  found  in  little  tlocks  nf 
a  dozen  or  more.  'Fliesc  are  jirohablv  all  of  oni 
family,  the  parents  and  their  two  broods  of  thf 
year.  He  is  one  of  the  birds  who  stores  up  fdnci 
for  a  time  when  food  is  scarce.  In  sumiucr,  he 
eats  only  insects. 

The  Tufted  Titmouse,  like  others  of  his  race, 
has  a  great  deal  of  curiosity.  I  have  heard  nf 
one  who  came  into  a  house  through  an  o|ien 
window.  It  was  a  female  Titmouse  in  search  of 
a  good  jilace  for  a  nest,  .^fter  she  had  been  in 
all  the  rooms,  and  heljied  herself  to  whatever 
she  found  that  was  good  to  eat,  she  seemed  to 
decide  that  it  was  a  land  of  jilenty  and  she  would 
stav. 


The 
as  nice 
her,  an 


stranger 
to  bnikl 
1  she  br 


scttk 
in. 

lught 


<i  upon  a 
l"he  f.unih' 
in  her  m:it 


hanging 
did  not 
■rials  ;ui 


basket 
disturb 
fi  made 


Drawing  by  R.  Brute  Hursfall 

TUFTED  TITMOUSE  (J  nat.  size) 
A  gray-feathered  bit  of  curiosity 
Vol..   III.  — I.S 


Photo  by  S.  A.  Luttridge 

NEST  AND  EGGS  OF  TUFTED  TITMOUSE 
A  section  of  the  stub  has  been  removed 

her  nest.  .She  had  even  lairl  two  or  three  eg.gs, 
when  the  ]jeoi)le  began  to  take  too  much  interest 
in  her  affairs,  and  the  bird  thought  it  best  to 
move  to  a  safer  place. 

Another  of  these  birds,  in  Ohio,  looking  about 
for  something  nice  and  soft  to  line  her  nest, 
pitched  upon  a  gentleman's  hair.  Unfortimately, 
he  had  need  of  the  hair  himself  :  but  the  saucy 
little  Titmouse  didn't  mind  that.  She  alighted 
on  his  head,  seized  a  beakful,  and  then  bracing 
herself  on  her  stout  little  legs,  she  actually  jerked 
out  the  lock,  and  flew  away  with  it.  So  well  did 
she  like  it  that  she  came  back  for  more.  The 
gentleman  was  a  bird  lover,  and  was  pleased  to 
give  some  of  his  hair  to  such  a  brave  little 
creature.  Oi-IVE  Tiiorne  AIii.ler. 

The  characteristic  call  note  of  this  Titmouse 
is  a  two-syllabled,  whistled  utterance,  quite  melo- 
dious, and  sometimes  repeated  twice,  three,  or 
even  four,  times.  To  some  ears  the  syllables 
sound  like  /r/o,  to  others  more  like  tur-vc.  tlie 
accent  always  being  on  the  first  syllable.  An- 
other single  note,  less  frequently  heard,  is  much 
like  the  aulinim  note  of  tlie  I'luebird. 


?o8 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


BLACK-CRESTED  TITMOUSE 

Baeolophus  atricristatus  atricristatus   (Cassin) 

A     (),    r.    Number  73- 


General  Description. —  Length,  6  inches.  Upper 
parts,  gray;  under  ])arts,  grayish-white.  Bill,  short  and 
stout;  wings,  long  and  rounded;  tail,  shorter  than 
wing,  sliglitly  rounded  ;  head,  with  crest. 

Color. —  Forrhcad,  dull  ii7iiVc,  sometimes  faintly 
tinged  witli  brown  ;  rest  of  crown,  including  crest, 
black,  sharply  defined  against  whitish  of  forehead  ;  rest 
of  upper  parts,  including  ed,ges  of  back  of  head  and 
the  region  over  eye,  plain  .gray,  strongly  washed  with 
olive,  except  over  the  eye  where  the  gray  is  paler, 
gradually  fading  into  still  paler  gray  on  ear  region  and 
sides   of   neck,   and   this    fading  into   white  or  grayish 


white  on  cheek  region  ;  under  parts,  grayish-white 
hecijniing  clearer  buffy-white  posteriorly,  the  sides  and 
flanks,   pale  cinnamon-rufous;   iris,  brown. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest:  In  hollows  of  trees,  old 
Woodpecker  holes,  or  deep  cracks  of  tree  trunks ;  com- 
posed of  grasses,  fine  inner  bark,  feathers,  moss,  and 
wool,  and  usually  pieces  of  snake  skin.  Eggs:  5  or  6. 
clear  white  with  small  chestnut  spots  sparingly  scattered 
over  entire  surface. 

Distribution. —  Rio  Grande  valley,  and  Mexican 
States  of  Coahuila.  Nuevo  Leon,  Tamaulipas,  San  Luis 
Potosi.   and   Vera   Cruz    (highlands). 


The  Black-crested  Titmouse  is  one  of  the  many 
birds  that  hirk  chiefly  near  the  southwestern 
border,  and  remain  unknown  to  American  ob- 
servers except  the  comparatively  few  who  see 
them  in  that  region. 

The  sharply-defined,  black  crest  gives  the  bird 
a  clever  and  rather  dandified  appearance,  and 
he   has   the   lively   manner   and   cheerful   dispo- 


sition of  his  well-loved  relative,  the  Chickadee  of 
the  Eastern  States.  The  bird  occurs  very  com- 
monly in  the  Chisos  and  Davis  mountains. 

Sennett's  Titmotise  (Bcrolophiis  atricristatus 
scnnctti)  is  very  similar  to  the  Black-crested;  he 
is  decidedly  larger  and  his  upper  parts  are  much 
clearer  gray  with  very  little,  if  any,  of  the  olive 
tinge.    He  lives  in  central  Texas. 


BRIDLED  TITMOUSE 

Baeolophus  v^^ollweberi   ( Bonaparte) 


Other  Name. —  Wollweher's  Titmouse. 

General  Description. —  Length,  5  inches.  Upper 
parts,  deep  olive-.gray  and  black;  under  parts,  pale 
olive-gray  and  black.  Bill,  short  and  stout ;  wings,  long 
and  rounded  ;  tail,  shorter  than  wing,  slightly  rounded  ; 
head,  with  crest. 

Color. —  Crown,  including  crest,  black,  with  a  large 
central  patch  of  deep  gray  coverin,g  whole  crown;  over 
the  eyes  a  broad  and  sharply  defined  stripe  of  white 
extending  posteriorly  to  beneath  hind  part  of  crest, 
where  it  joins  with  a  broad  white  band  across  side  of 
neck;  back  of  the  eye  a  streak  of  black,  broader  pos- 
teriorly, where  it  joins  with  a  black  band  across  ter- 
minal portion  of  ear  region  ;  rest  of  ear  region,  together 


with  the  cheek,  white ;  a  black  spot  or  short  streak  at 
front  angle  of  eye;  chin  and  throat,  uniform  black, 
forming  a  conspicuous  patch  with  sharply  defined  rear 
outline;  upper  parts  (except  as  described),  plain  deep 
olive-gray,  more  strongly  tinged  with  olive  posteriorly  ; 
under  parts  of  body,  pale  olive-gray,  passing  into  pale 
olive-buffy  on  abdomen  and  under  tail-coverts ;  iris, 
brown. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest:  In  natural  tree  cavities, 
three  to  six  feet  up  ;  composed  of  cottonwood  down  and 
fern   fronds.     EcGS :     S  to  7.  plain  wliite. 

Distribution. —  Mountains  of  southern  Arizona  and 
southern  New  Mexico  and  south  through  Mexico  to 
Guerrero.  Oaxaca,  and  Vera  Cruz. 


The  Bridled  Titmouse  differs  radically  in  ap- 
pearance from  the  Black-crest,  and  notably  in 
the  curious  markings  abotit  the  head  and  throat, 
which  suggest  a  bridle.  In  manners  and  habits 
however,  and  especially  in  gregariousness    ( ex- 


cepting during  the  breeding  season),  it  resembles 
the  other  members  of  its  family,  though  the  little 
companies  of  twenty  or  more  are  less  noisy  and 
perhaps  less  playful  than  their  cousins,  the  Chick- 
adees. 


TITMICE 


209 


iiig  l.y  R.  I.  Brashur 

BRIDLED  TITMOUSE  mat.  size) 

markings  about  its  throat  suggest 


CHICKADEE 

Penthestes  atricapillus  atricapillus   (Li)inccns) 

A     C).    I-.    \iimliiT    7.!5       See   folor   Tlatc    103 


Other  Names. —  Common  Chickadee  :  Eastern  Chick- 
adee ;  Black-capped  Chickadee;  Black-capped  Titmouse; 
Black-capped   Tit. 

General  Description. —  Length,  5-">4  inches.  Upper 
I)arts,  gray  and  hlack ;  under  parts,  white  and  black. 
No  crest ;  bill,  shorter  than  head  ;  wings,  long  and 
rounded  ;  tail,  shorter  than  wing,  slightly  rounded. 

Color. —  Entire  crown  and  hindneck  (except  lateral 
portion  of  the  latter)  uniform  deep  black;  back, 
shoulders,  middle  and  lesser  wing-coverts,  plain  olive- 
gray,  passing  into  more  bufify  gray  on  rump  and  upper 
tail-coverts  ;  wings  and  tail,  dusky  slate  color ;  .greater 
wing-coverts  and  secondaries,  broadly  edged  with  pale 
gray  or  .grayish-white ;  tail-feathers  edged  with  olive- 
gray,  these  ed.gings  becomin.g  white  on  outermost 
feathers;  chin  and  whole  throat,  black;  sides  of  head 


and  neck,  white;  under  parts  of  body,  white,  the  sides 
and   Hanks  tinged  with  buff;   iris,  brown. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest  :  In  deserted  Woodpecker 
Imles,  natural  cavities,  old  stumps  (preferably  white 
birch),  or  fence  posts;  such  openings  are  filled  with 
leaves,  moss,  grasses,  snugly  lined  with  hair,  fur  from 
small  animals,  and  feathers.  Eggs  ;  4  to  8,  white, 
spotted  with  chestnut  and  lilac-gray. 

Distribution. —  Eastern  North  America;  north  to 
Newfoundland,  Quebec.  Ontario,  and  southern  Kee- 
watin  ;  south  regularly,  to  about  latitude  40°,  in  New 
Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  Ohio,  northern  Indiana,  northern 
Illinois.  Iowa,  etc.,  in  .Mlegheny  Mountains  to  North 
Carolina  (in  spruce  belt);  irregularly  (in  winter) 
to  northern  Virginia,  Kentucky,  soutliern  Illinois, 
Missouri,  etc. 


BIRDS    OF    AMERICA 


In  winter  especially,  the  Chickadee  is  the 
feathered  small  boy  of  the  woods.  Like  the 
Nuthatches  and  the  Kinglets,  freriuently  his 
companions,  the  Chickadee  seems  actually  to 
enjoy  a  snowstorm,  and  announces  the  fact  by 
language  and  actions  the  meanmg  of  which  are 


ng  by  R.  i.  Brasiier 

CHICKADEE  (J  nat.  size) 


unmistakable.  In  the  bitterest  weather  he  frolics 
and  frisks  from  tree  to  tree,  happy  and  care-free, 
laughing  and  joking.  Mr.  Burroughs  says  that 
"  the  Chickadee  has  a  voice  full  of  unspeakable 
tenderness  and  fidelity,"  which  is  very  faithful  to 
the  spirit  of  the  utterance  from  which  the  bird  is 
named.  This  call  is  often  abbreviated  by  the 
omission  of  the  first  two  syllables,  but  the  result- 
ing dec,  dec,  dec,  is  a  very  sweet  and  pleasing 
little  greeting. 

Many  persons  who  are  familiar  with  this  call 
are  unaware  that  the  Chickadee  has  two  other 
vocal  performances  which  are  widely  different 
from  it.  One  is  composed  of  two  notes,  and  is 
most  frequently  heard  in  the  spring  ;  the  other  in- 
volves three  notes,  and  may  be  heard  in  the 
spring  or  fall.  The  notes  of  both  are  whistled, 
and  their  quality  is,  therefore,  very  difTereni 
from  that  of  the  characteristic  call.  By  some 
ornithologists  these  notes  are  considered  song- 
like rather  than  call-like,  though  it  might  be 
difficult  to  establish  this  distinction.  At  any 
rate,  the  two-note  utterance  suggests  the  char- 
acteristic little  sigh  of  the  Phosbe,  from  which, 
however,  it  ditifers  in  that  the  tones  are  purer  and 
sweeter,  are  more  deliberately  executed,  and  are 
cheerful  and  hopeful  rather  than  somewhat 
plaintive. 

The  three-note  group  is  less  frequently  lieard, 
but  generally  is  much  the  more  musical  and  beau- 
tiful of  the  two  expressions.  Curiously  enough 
these  notes  reproduce  almost  exactly  the  last  three 
notes  of  the  phrase  to  which  are  set  the  words 


"  I'm  coming  back  to  you,"  in  the  so-called 
Hawaiian  love  song  "Yakahula."  Of  course  this 
i.s  a  pure  coincidence,  as  is  the  reproduction  by 
the  Wood  Thrush  of  the  opening  phrase  of 
Faust's  "  Garden  Song  to  Marguerite."  The 
singularly  sweet  quality  and  bell-life  resonance 
of  these  notes  combine  to  make  them  almost 
startlingly'  beautiful  when  they  are  sounded  sud- 
denly in  the  listening  silence  of  a  deep  forest. 

Any  one  who  has  a  musical  ear,  and  can 
whistle  in  a  high  key,  can  easily  imitate  these 
songs;  and,  if  he  will  sit  still  as  he  does  so,  he  is 
likely  to  have  the  pleasure  of  bringing  the  birds 
to  within  a  few  feet  of  him.  Indeed,  the  Chick- 
adee is  one  of  the  most  trustful  of  birds,  and  by 
the  exercise  of  a  little  patience  one  may  often 
induce  the  little  fellow  to  take  food  from  the 
hand  or  even  from  between  the  lips. 

While  incubating,  the  Chickadee  has  an 
amusing  way  of  trying  to  frighten  away  in- 
truders. Mr.  Burroughs  records  the  following 
instance  of  that  performance :  "  One  day  a  lot 
of  Vassar  girls  came  to  visit  me  and  I  led  them 


Phrjt.i  by  A.  A.  Allen 

CHICKADEE 
At  its  nest  hole  in  a  sumach  stub 

out  to  the  little  sassafras  to  see  the  Chickadee's 
nest.  The  sitting  bird  kept  her  place  as  head 
after  head,  with  its  nodding  plumes  of  millinery, 
appeared  above  the  opening  of  her  chamber,  and 
a  pair  of  inquisitive  eyes  peered  down  upon  her. 
But   I    saw   she   was  getting  ready   to   play   her 


TITMICE 


211 


litlli-  irick  to  frighten  them  away.  Presently  I 
lieard  a  taint  explosion  at  the  hottnni  of  the 
eavit).  when  the  peeping  girl  jerked  her  head 
quiekly  back,  with  the  exclamation,  '  \\  hy,  it  spit 
at  me  !  '  The  trick  of  this  bird  on  such  occasions 
is  apparently  to  draw  in  its  breath  till  its  form 
perceptibly  swells,  and  then  gi\e  forth  a  ipiick, 
explosive  sound,  like  an  escaping  jet  of  steam. 
One  involuntarily  closes  his  eyes  and  jerks  back 
his  head."     {Far  and  Near.) 

Like  the  Nuthatches  and  a  few  other  birds,  the 
Chickadee  doesn't  seem  in  the  least  to  mind  being 
upside  down,  ^^'hile  searching  for  insects  and 
larvje  he  is  frequently  seen  clinging  to  a  twig  in 
a  completely  reversed  position,  in  which  he 
seems  to  be  entirely  at  case,  lie  also  often 
alights  on  the  side  of  a  jjcrpendicular  limb,  or 
tnnik  of  a  tree,  after  the  manner  i.if  the  W'ootl- 
peckers,  in  order  to  search  the  crevices  of  the 
bark  for  insects.  But  he  does  not  attempt  to 
climb  up  or  down  as  the  Woodpeckers  and  Nut- 
hatches so  readily  do ;  and  it  is  noticeable 
that  his  position  is  usually  at  an  angle  with  the 
[jerpendicular,  this  in  consequence  of  his  not 
having  either  feet  or  a  tail  adapted  for  climbing. 
George  Gladden. 

Examination  of  289  stomachs  of  this  Chicka- 
dee shows  that  its  food  consists  of  68  per  cent, 
animal  matter  (insects)  and  32  per  cent,  vege- 
table matter.  The  former  is  made  up  of  small 
caterpillars  and  moths  and  their  eggs.  Prominent 
among  the  latter  are  the  eggs  of  the  tent-cater- 
pillar moths,  both  the  orchard  and  forest  species. 
As  these  are  two  of  our  most  destructive  in- 
sects, the  good  done  by  the  Chickadee  in  de- 
vouring their  eggs  needs  no  comment.  During 
the  winter  the  Chickadee's  food  is  made  up  of 
larvae,  chrysalids,  and  eggs  of  moths,  varied  b\' 
a  few  seeds  ;  but  as  spring  brings  out  h(jrdes  of 
flying,  crawling,  and  jumjiing  insects,  the  bird 
varies  its  diet  liy  taking  al  o  some  of  these. 
Among  the  luigs  may  be  mentioned  the  ]ilant  lice 
and  their  eggs,  which  are  eaten  in  winter.  The 
beetles  taken  nearly  all  belong  to  the  group  of 
snout  beetles,  more  commonly  known  as  weevils, 
and  nearly  all  are  known  to  the  farmer  or  fruit 
raiser  as  pests ;  the  plum  curculio  and  the  cntton- 
holl  weevil  may  be  taken  as  f.aii-  examples. 
.■-Spiders  constitute  an  important  element  of  the 
food  and  are  eaten  at  all  times  of  the  ve.ar.  the 
birds  locating  them  when  they  arc  hibernating  in 
winter  as  well  as  w'hen  they  are  active  in  summer. 
The  vegetable  food  of  the  Chickadee  consists 
largely  of  small  seeds,  excejjt  in  summer,  when 
they  are  re])laced  by  pulp  of  wild   fruit. 

In  western  North  America  are  three  variant 


forms  of  the  Common  Chickadee.  The  Lung- 
tailed  Chickadee  {  I't'iitlu-xU-s  atrii-apilliis  scptcn- 
trioiialis)  breeds  from  .\laska.  central  Mac- 
kenzie, and  southwestern  Keewatni  south  to  New 
Mexico  and  eastern  Kansas  and  from  eastern 
(  >regon  east  to  western  Minnesota  and  western 
Iowa.  In  winter  it  is  found  south  as  far  as 
central  Texas.  It  is  larger  than  the  Eastern 
Chickadee  and  its  plum,-ige  is  jialer,  with  the 
white  edgings  on  the  wing  and  tail-feathers 
liroader  and  more  conspicuous. 


Photo  by  Hamet  ti.  Rider      Courtesy  of  iNcit.  Asio.  Aud.  Sui'. 
THE  BIRDS'  CHRISTMAS  TREE 
Receives  a  visit  from  a  Chickadee 

The  Oregon  Chickadee  {  Peiilhcstrs  atricu /villus 
occideiitalis)  is  smaller  and  darker  than  the 
eastern  Chickadee,  its  back  varving  in  color 
from  deep  mouse-gray  to  deep  hair-brown  or 
light  olive,  and  the  wlnte  edgmgs  of  tail  and 
wing  feathers  more  restricted.  It  is  found  in 
the  Pacific  coast  district  from  the  Columbia 
River  to  Piritish  Columliia. 

The  ^'ukon  Chickadee  { Pciithcstrs  atricapillns 
tiinicn)  is  found  in  .\laska,  north  and  west  of 
Cook  Inlet.  It  most  resembles  the  Long-tailed 
Chickadee.     It  is  slightly  smaller,  with  coloration 


BIRDS   OF    x\MERICA 


grayer  above  and  the  under  parts  and  white  edg- 
ings of  feathers  more  purely  white. 

The  CaroHna  or  Southern  Cliickadee  (Pcn- 
thcstcs  carolinciisis  carolincnsis  )  and  its  variants, 
the  Pkunbeous,  or  Texan.  Chickadee  (Pcnthcstcs 
carolincnsis  agilis)  and  the  Florida  Chickadee 
(Pcnthcstcs    carolincnsis    inipiijcr).   are    smaller 


than  the  Rlack-capped  Chickadee,  with  relatively 
shorter  tails  and  larger  bills,  with  little,  if  any, 
white  on  wings  and  tails,  and  with  the  black 
throat-patch  abruptly  defined  posteriorly.  They 
are  found  in  the  southeastern  United  States  east 
to  eastern  Texas,  and  north  to  Indiana,  Ohio, 
Pennsylvania,  and  New  Jersey. 


MOUNTAIN  CHICKADEE 
Penthestes  gambeli  gambeli   (  Ridgway) 

A,    n.   U.    Number  r,l8 


General  Description. —  Length.  544  inches.  Upper 
parts,  olive-gray :  under  parts,  black  and  white.  No 
crest ;  bill,  shorter  than  head  ;  wings,  long  and  rounded ; 
tail,  shorter  than  wing,  slightly  rounded. 


Color. —  Crown  and  hindneck,  uniform  black,  with  a 
faint  l)luish  gloss;  oi'rr  the  eyes  a  zvliitc  stripe:  cheeks, 
chin,  throat,  and  upper  chest,  uniform  deep  black,  very 
sharply  defined  posteriorly;  sides  of  head  and  neck 
between  the  two  black  areas,  white ;  back,  shoulders, 
lesser  wing-coverts,  rump,  and  upper  tail-coverts,  plain 
olive-gray  or  mouse  gray,  the  rump  more  strongly 
tinged  with  olive  ;  wings  and  tail,  dull  slate  color  with 
gray  edgings;  sides  and  flanks  (broadly)  and  under 
tail-coverts,  olive-gray  (paler  and  more  tinged  with 
olive  than  back)  ;  center  of  lower  chest,  breast,  and 
abdomen,   white;    iris,   brown. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest  :  In  natural  cavity  or  a 
deserted  Woodpecker  hole,  from  2  to  20  feet  up  ;  made 
of  grasses,  rootlets,  sheep's  wool,  cattle  hair  and,  very 
frequently,  rabbits'  fur.  Eggs  ;  5  to  9.  plain  white 
unmarked  or  spotted  with   reddish-brown. 

Distribution. —  Mountains  of  western  United  States, 
from  the  Rocky  Mountains  to  the  coast  ranges ;  north 
to  British  Columbia,  northern  Idaho,  Montana,  etc., 
south  to  western  Texas,  New  Mexico,  Arizona,  and 
northern  Lower  California. 


Drawing  by  R.  Bruce  Horsfall 

MOUNTAIN  CHICKADEE  (J  nat.  size) 
Its  call  has  an  accent  of  good  cheer  and  tendern 


The  Mountain  Chickadee  of  the  West  is  a 
shade  larger,  and  of  slightly  dififerent  coloration 
than  its  well  beloved  eastern  relative,  but  in 
habits  and  disposition  the  birds  are  very  similar. 
The  western  bird  moves  in  short,  fluttering 
flights  from  tree  to  tree,  is  much  given  to  cling- 
ing to  twigs  upside  down,  and  shows  the  same 
friendly  curiosity  about  human  loiterers  in  his 
neighborhood  that  is  characteristic  of  his  east- 
ern cousin ;  and  his  call,  though  somewhat  dif- 
ferent in  the  arrangement  and  quality  of  its 
syllables,  has  the  same  accent  of  combined  good 
cheer  and  tenderness.  It  is  in  the  coniferous 
regions  of  the  mountains  that  he  is  found. 


TITMICE 


213 


ACADIAN  CHICKADEE 
Penthestes   hudsonicus   littoralis    ( //.   Bryant) 

A     II.    l\    Xumljer    r-ioa       M-c   I  olor    TKite    lo! 


General  Description. —  Length.  5'..  inches.  Upper 
parts,  brown  :  under  parts,  black,  white,  and  reddish. 
No  crest ;  bill,  shorter  tlian  head ;  wings,  long  and 
rounded ;   tail,   shorter  than   wing,   slightly   rounded. 

Color. —  Crown  and  hindneck.  plain,  soft  i/rayish- 
brown :  back,  shoulders,  lesser  wing-coverts,  rump,  and 
upper  tail-coverts,  brim'ii :  wings  and  tail,  dull  slate 
color  with  slate-gray  edgings :  mouth  and  eye  regions, 
white,  gradually  shading  into  pale  gray  on  ear  region 
and  this  into  clear  gray  or  olive-gray  on  sides  of  neck; 
cheek   region,   chin,   and   throat,    uniform   sooty    black; 


under  jiarts  of  liody,  white  medially,  the  sides  of  chest 
^llalled  with  gray,  the  .uidw  and  fhinks.  cinniiini)>t- 
hro-Lcn :  iris,  brown. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Xf.st  :  In  natural  cavities  in  trees 
or  stumps;  constructed  of  moss  and  fur.  Eggs:  6  or  7. 
indistinguishable  from  those  of  common  Chickadee. 

Distribution. —  Southeastern  British  provinces  and 
e.xtrcme  northeastern  United  States.  Maine,  mountains 
of  New  Hampshire,  \'ermont,  and  northeastern  New 
York ;  casually  or  irregularly  southward  to  Massa- 
cluisetts,   Rhode  Island  and  Comiecticut. 


The  gray-brown  cap,  brownish  back,  and  red- 
dish sides  of  this  little  denizen  of  the  northiand, 
distinguish  hint  sharply  from  his  essentially 
black-and-white,  livelier,  and  more  ubiquitous 
cousin,  the  Common  Chickadee,  hut  in  general 
the  manners  of  the  two  birds  are  not  markedly 
dissimilar.  Naturally  enough,  different  observers 
give  different  renderings  of  the  bird's  call  notes. 
One  (Wright)  speaks  of  its  "sweet  warbling 
song,"  while  another  (lirewster)  has  heard  only 
"  low.  chattering  conversational  sounds,  a  low 
chip  much  like  that  of  the  Common  Chickadee/' 
and  "  an  abrupt,  explosive,  tch-tchip,  and  a  nasal 
drawling  tchick.  cJicc-day-day."  which  he  thinks 
is  easilv  distinguishable  from  the  familiar  call 
of  the  Common  Chickadee. 

The  records  show  a  remarkable  flight  of  this 
bird  into  the  southern  New  England  States  in 
the  winter  of  1014-15.  Why  the  flight,  no  one 
seems  to  have  explained  clearly,  but  it  has  been 
conjectured  that  it  may  have  been  due  to  the 
injury  done  bv  insects  in  northern  Maine  and 
New  Brunswick  to  the  spruce  forests  which 
furnish  a  large  part  of  the  bird's  normal  food 
stipplv.  .^t  anv  rate,  the  Acadian  Chickadees 
became  comparativelv  common  that  year  in  east- 
ern Massachusetts  where  they  do  not  usually 
appear  in  such  numbers.  They  were  seen  in  the 
company  of  Golden-crowned  Kinglets,  Fox 
Sparrows,  and  other  Chickadees,  and  it  was 
noticed  that  they  fed  freely  upon  the  seeds  of  the 
goldenrod  and  upon  the  berries  of  the  red  cedar ; 
also  that  they  did  not  expose  themselves  much. 

Evidently  there  was  a  flight  somewhat  similar 
to  this  in  the  winter  of  1913-14,  and  of  this 
we  have  an  accoimt  in  the  Atik  from  a  cor- 
respondent  in   Watch   Hill,   R.   I.,  which   seems 


worth  quoting  in  part.  "As  this  was  the  second 
record  of  this  species  in  the  State."  he  writes. 
"  anrl  there  was  wh.at  niifdit  almost  he  called  a 


Courtesy  ot  Am.  Mus    Nr 
ACADIAN  CHICKADEE  il  nat.  size) 

flight  for  a  so  rare  a  bird.  1  tried  to  collect  one 
with  a  ca[)  and  golf  sticks,  but  was  unsuccessful, 
succeeding  merely  in  getting  very  close." 

The  Hudsonian  Chickadee  (Penthestes  hitd- 
soniciis  hiidsoiiieiis  )  is  larger  than  the  Acadian 
and  its  upper  parts  are  slightly  grayer.  It  is 
found  in  northern  North  America,  breeding 
from  Alaska  and  the  tree-limit  in  central  Mac- 
kenzie and  central  Keewatin  south  to  southern 
British  Columbia,  central  Alberta  ( usually 
Montana),  northern  Manitoba,  central  Ontario, 
and  Ungava  ;  sometimes  in  the  winter  it  wanders 
as  far  south  as  northern  Illinois. 

Another  subspecies  is  the  so-called  Labrador 
Brown-capped  Chickadee  (Penthestes  Iiiidsoni- 
ei(s  nit/ricuiis)  of  which  there  was  an  interesting 
southward  flight  in  the  winter  of  1916-1",  as  far 
as  Staten  Island,  N.  Y. 


214 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


CHESTNUT-BACKED  CHICKADEE 
Penthestes  rufescens  rufescens  ( ./.  K.   Toiciisciid) 

A.    ().    r.    Number   741 


General  Description. —  Length,  5  inches.  Upper 
parts,  brown :  under  parts,  brown  and  white.  No 
crest;  bill,  shorter  than  head;  wings,  long  and  rounded; 
tail,  shorter  than  wing,  slightly  rounded. 

Color. — Crown  and  hindneck,  plain  sepia  brown, 
becoming  darker  along  lateral  margin  ;  hack,  shoulders, 
ami  ntinp,  f>laiii  chestnut;  upper  tail-coverts  and  lesser 
wing-coverts,  brownish-gray  or  hair  brown;  wings  and 
tail,  deep  brownish-gray  with  paler  gray  edgings,  these 
broader  and  paler  (sometimes  nearly  white)  on  inner 
wing-quills  and  terminal  portion  of  greater  wing- 
coverts;  cheek  region,  chin,  throat,  and  upper  part  of 


chest,  uniform  dark  sooty-brown,  abruptly  defined  pos- 
teriorly ;  sides  and  flanks,  chestnut ;  under  parts  of 
body  otherwise,  white;  under  tail-coverts  tinged  with 
brown ;  iris,  brown. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest  :  In  a  dead  stump  from  12 
to  40  feet  up  :  lined  with  hair,  fur.  feathers,  and  moss. 
Eggs  :  5  to  7,  white,  usually  unmarked,  but  some- 
times minutely  specked  or  spotted  with  chestnut  or 
reddish. 

Distribution. —  Pacific  coast  district,  from  northern 
California  to  Prince  William  Sound  and  head  of  Lynn 
Canal,  Alaska;  east  to  Montana. 


Titmice  personify  inquisitiveness.  They  are 
feathered  interrogation  points ;  prying  into  each 
hole,  crack,  and  cranny ;  interviewing  and  ques- 
tioning every  passer-by.  In  this  respect  the 
Chestnut-backed  Chickadee  is  typical  of  the  Tit- 
mouse family,  but  why  is  it  colored  so  differently 
from  other  Chickadees  which  inhabit  the  same 
region?  Here  is  a  question  for  future  ornitholo- 
gists to  answer. 

This  sprightly,  cheerful  little  acrobat  of  the 
trees  is  common  in  some  of  the  timberlands  of 
the  Northwest ;  but  is  not  by  any  means  confined 
to  them,  as,  like  other  Titmice,  it  visits  the 
homes  of  man  and  is  as  fearless  as  the  common 
Chickadee.  Nevertheless,  the  great  coniferous 
forests  of  the  humid  Pacific  coast  region  seem 
to  be  its  favorite  hunting  grounds  ;  and  there,  far 
up  amid  the  foliage  of  tall  pines,  firs,  and  cedars 
that  tower  toward  the  sky,  it  flutters,  turns,  pries, 
creeps,  and  clings,  searching  out  desttuctive  in- 
sect enemies  of  its  sheltering  friends,  the  trees. 

Often  invisible  by  reason  of  the  dense 
greenery,  its  cheery  notes  are  the  only  indications 
of  its  presence  that  are  perceptible  to  the  foot 
passengers  in  the  shades  below.  As  a  matter  of 
course,  it  is  seen  more  commonly  in  open  de- 
ciduous woods.  It  is  by  no  means  averse  to  set- 
tled regions,  and  may  be  found  along  roadways 
and  even  in  orchards  and  shade  trees. 

The  old  nursery  rime,  "  Little  Tommy  Tittle- 
mouse,  lives  in  a  little  house,"  applies  perfectly 
to  this  species ;  for  its  snug  domicile  in  the 
hollow  of  a  tree  has  doorway,  floor,  and  roof  and 
is  carpeted  or  lined  with  a  felting  of  hair,  fur, 
wool,  or  feathers.  It  is  a  safe,  comfortable  little 
house  quite  sufficient  for  the  owtier's  simple 
needs.  Moreover  this  Chickadee  nests  in  bird 
hotises  put  up  for  other  birds  and  the  habit  grows. 

While  the  young  are  in  the  nest  the  parents 


wurk  with  tireless  indtistry ;  searching  bark,  leaf, 
and  twig  for  insects  with  which  to  fill  the  many 
little  gaping,  hungry  mouths  ])rotruding  upward 
from  the  well-filled  nest.  In  the  search  for  food 
the  parents  are  constantly  on  the  move ;  swing- 
ing, twisting,  hanging,  fluttering,  climbing,  and 
even  turning  an  occasional  half-somersault  in 
air  when  pursuing  some  winged  insect  that  seeks 
safety  in  precipitate  erratic  flight.  The  Chickadee 
views  the  world  from  all  angles,  and  is  quite  as 
much  at  home  wrong  side  tip  as  right  side  up. 
It  plays  a  continual  game  of  hide  and  seek  or 
"  tag,  yoti're  it,"  which  it  seems  to  delight  in, 
but  it  is  played  mostly  in  the  line  of  business  — 
the  serious  business  of  getting  a  living. 

When  the  young  are  fledged  and  able  to  fly 
they  are  near  replicas  of  the  parents,  but  some- 
what abbreviated  and  even  more  fluffy.  Away 
they  all  go,  fluttering  and  scampering  through 
the  labyrinth  of  coniferous  branches,  often  in 
company  with  Golden-crowned  Kinglets,  Oregon 
Chickadees,  Mountain  Chickadees,  Creepers,  or 
\\'arblers.  When  winter  winds  rage  over  the 
forests,  when  rain  and  snow  storm  into  their 
fastnesses,  the  Chickadees  pack  their  little 
stomachs  well  with  insects'  eggs,  pupse,  or  seeds 
and  hie  themselves  to  some  snug  sheltered 
refuge  in  the  trees  where,  warm  and  dry,  they 
sleep  away  the  long  winter  nights. 

Edward  Howe  Forbush. 

The  California,  or  Nicasio.  Chickadee  {Pen- 
thestes rufescens  neglectiis)  and  Barlow's 
Chickadee  {Penthestes  rufescens  harloivi)  are 
geographical  varieties  of  the  Chestnut-backed. 
They  are  found  in  central  California  in  the  coast 
district.  The  California  has  less  chestnut  on  its 
sides  and  flanks,  which  exteriorly  are  pale  gray. 
The  Barlow's  has  the  sides  and  flanks  entirely 
pale  gray. 


TITMICE 


215 


BUSH-TIT 
Psaltriparus  minimus  minimus  {  J .  K .  l^oiiiiscmi ) 

A.    (  1.    U.    Xunibcr   743 


General  Description. —  Lenstli,  4' 4  iiicliev.  Upper 
parts,  gray;  under  parts,  lirnwiiisli-whitc.  Hill,  very 
.small,  deeper  than  broad;  winy^.  Iniv.;  .uicl  puiiitcd; 
tail,  longer  than  wing,  mucli  rounded,  tlic  featlier> 
narrow  but  with  the  tips  broad  and  rounded. 

Color. —  Crown  and  hindneck,  plain,  warm  lirown  or 
drab ;  back,  shoulders,  lesser  wing-coverts,  rump,  and 
upper  tail-coverts,  plain  deep  smoke  gray;  wings  (ex- 
cept lesser  coverts)  and  tail,  darker  gray  (dull  slate 
color)  with  pale  gray  edgings;  sides  of  head  similar  in 
color  to  crown  but  much  paler  and  duller ;  under  parts, 
dull  brnwnish-white.  deepening  on  sides  and  flanks  into 
pale,   dull  fcru-drab;  iris,  light  yellow. 

Nest    and    Eggs. —  Nest  ;      Placed    in    low    oaks,    in 


hunch  of  mistletoe  or  mesiiuite  from  5  to  20  feet  up,  a 
long  gourd-shaped  structure,  flarin.g  at  bottom,  entrance 
near  top  on  side ;  not  strictly  pensile,  being  fastened  to 
a  number  of  twigs  along  sides;  from  eight  to  ten 
inches  long  and  four  or  five  in  diameter,  the  walls  three 
times  as  thick  at  bottom  as  at  top,  where  about  one- 
half  inch  through;  constructed  exteriorly  of  dry  sage 
leaves,  plant  down,  moss,  lichens,  and  cobwebs,  thickly 
lined  with  smaller  feathers.  E<;gs  :  4  to  6,  pure  white. 
Distribution. —  West  slope  of  coast  mountains  in 
Oregon,  California,  and  northern  Lower  California, 
north  to  the  Columbia  River,  soutli  to  Nachoguero 
valley.  Lower  California  (also  to  San  Pedro  Alartir 
Mountains,  and  San  Fernando?). 


(Jne  can  hardly  help  falling  in  I(i\c  with  the 
Bush-Tit.  He  is  such  a  tiny  bird,  not  larger  than 
your  thumb.  He  goes  along  in  such  a  bustling, 
business-like  way.  He  is  quite  fearless.  One 
can  make  friends  with  the  Bush-Tit  as  easily  as 
with  his  cousin,  the  Chickadee.  Any  one  who 
has  studied  bird  character  would  know  tli;it  the 
two  are  related  even  if  he  did  not  know  that 
both  are  members  of  the  Titmousi'  family. 

The  Bush-Tit  builds  a   real  bird   mansion,   a 


long,  gourd-shaped  home  from  eight  to  ten 
inches  or  even  longer,  with  a  round  entrance  at 
the  upper  end.  I  once  watched  a  pair  of  these 
birds  lay  the  foundation  for  a  typical  long  jiocket- 
ne.st.  I  say  "  lay  the  foundation,"  but  really  the 
Bush-Tit  does  not  follow  our  ideas  of  archi- 
tecture, for  he  builds  from  the  top  down.  This 
pair  began  making  a  roof  to  the  home,  then  a 
round  doorway,  and  next  they  began  weaving 
the  walls  of  moss,  fibers,  and  lichens.     From  the 


/ 


y 


Dr,lning  hy  R.  I.  Brasher 

BDSH-TIT  (nat.  size) 
-4  fearless  little  mite,  no  bigger  than  your  thumb 


2l6 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


doorway,  there  was  a  sort  of  a  hall  down  to  the 
main  living-room.  This  was  warmly  lined  with 
feathers.  To  make  a  soft  feather  lining  re- 
quired a  good  deal  of  hunting.  The  feather  lin- 
ing was  not  really  completed  till  after  the  eggs 
were  laid.  Whenever  one  of  the  Bush-Tits  would 
come  upon  a  feather,  he  would  pick  it  up  and 
bring  it  home.  The  Bush-Tits  reminded  me  of 
some  ].)eople  who  build  a  house,  but  are  not  able 
to  furnish  it  throughout,  so  they  pick  up  the 
furnishings  later  on   from  time   to   time. 

In  some  parts  of  Oregon  where  moss  hangs  in 
long  bunches  from  the  limbs,  the  Bush-Tit  uses 
this  natural  beginning  for  a  nest.  I  saw  one  of 
these  birds  build  its  home  by  getting  inside  of  a 
long  piece  of  moss  and  weave  this  into  the  wall 
of  the  nest.  At  another  time,  I  saw  a  Bush-Tit's 
nest  twentv  inches  long.  The  little  weavers  had 
started  their  home  on  a  limb  and  it  was  evidently 
not  low  enough  to  suit  them,  for  they  made  a 
fiber  strap  ten  inches  long  and  then  swung  their 


gourd-shai)ed  nest  to  that,  letting  the  nest  hang 
in  a  bvmch  of  willow  leaves. 

I  never  had  had  a  good  idea  of  the  amount  of 
insect  food  a  Bush-Tit  consumed  until  I  watched 
a  pair  of  these  birds  a  few  days  after  the  eggs 
were  hatched.  Both  birds  fed  in  turn  and  the 
turns  averaged  from  five  to  ten  minutes  apart. 
The  parents  were  busy  from  dawn  till  dark. 
They  searched  the  leaves  and  twigs,  branches, 
and  trunks  of  every  tree.  They  hunted  through 
the  bushes,  grasses,  and  ferns.  They  brought 
caterpillars,  moths,  daddy-long-legs,  spiders, 
plant  lice,  and  many  other  kinds  of  insects.  One 
pair  of  Bush-Tits  about  a  locality  means  the 
destruction  of  a  great  many  harmful  insects.  If 
we  could  but  estimate  the  amount  of  insects  de- 
stroyed by  all  the  birds  about  any  one  locality, 
we  should  find  it  enormous.  Without  the  help 
of  these  assistant  gardeners,  the  bushes  and  trees 
would  soon  be  leafless. 

William  L.  Finley. 


VERDIN 
Auriparus  flaviceps  flaviceps    (Stinde7-al!) 

A.    O.   U.    Number  746 


Other  Names.— Gold-Tit;  Yellow-headed  Bush-Tit. 

General  Description. —  Length,  4'S  inches.  Head, 
yellow ;  upper  parts,  brownish-gray ;  under  parts,  pale 
brownish-gray  and  white.  Bill,  much  shorter  than 
head,  conical,  and  tip  acute;  wings,  long  and  rounded; 
tail,  nearly  as  long  as  wing,  rounded. 


Color. —  Adults  :  Head,  dull  .gamboge  or  wax- 
yellow,  clearer  yellow  on  cheeks,  chin,  and  throat 
(where  the  yellow  sometimes  extends  over  upper  chest), 
more  olivaceous  on  crown  and  back  of  head,  the  back 
portion  of  forehead  sometimes  tinged  with  orange- 
rufous  (rarely  with  a  distinct  though  partially  concealed 


Drawing  by  R.  I    Brasher 

VERDIN   (nat.  size1 

A  tiny  fellow  who  has  learned  to  use  his  own  roof  for  protection 
during  the  winter  season 


'■'\ 


TITMICE 


217 


spot  ot  this  color);  hindiieck,  back,  shoulders,  rump, 
and  upper  tail-coverts,  plain  brownish-gray  (between 
smoke-gray  and  hair-brown),  the  rump  usually  tinged 
with  yellowish  olive;  wings  and  tail,  decidedly  darker 
with  pale  brownish-gray  or  grayish-brown  edgings,  the 
lesser  wing-coverts,  uniform  bright  reddish-chestnut  or 
bay;  under  parts  of  body,  pale  brownish-gray,  becoming 
nearly  white  on  lower  abdomen  and  under  tail-coverts. 
Young  :  Essentially  similar  to  adults,  but  without 
yellow  on  head  or  chestnut  on  lesser  wing-coverts, 
which  are  of  the  same  color  with  the  back. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest:   .A.t  end  of  branch  of  thorny 


One  day.  while  we  were  passing  a  little  s:;;"!'}' 
west  of  Tucson,  .\rizona,  I  saw  what  looked  to 
be  a  small  btmch  of  grass  or  roots  caught  on  the 
bare  limb  of  a  cat's-claw.     It  looked  like  a  piece 


trees  or  bushes,  in  brushy  valleys  of  high  dry  country 
away  from  timber  and  among  the  desert  thickets ;  a 
remarkable  large  retort-shaped  structure  with  small 
round  entrance  on  one  side,  composed  exteriorly  of 
thorny  twigs  and  leaf  and  flower  stems,  closely  inter- 
woven, and  lined  with  feathers.  Eggs  ;  3  to  6,  bluisli 
or  greenish  white,  speckled  with  reddisli-brown,  heavi- 
est at  large  end. 

Distribution. —  Southern  Te.xas,  New  Mexico,  Ari- 
zona, southwestern  Utah,  southern  Nevada,  and 
southern  California,  northern  Lower  California,  and 
Mexico. 


creosote,  and  cat's-claw.  The  best  a  Yerdin 
can  do  for  self-protection  is  to  make  her  home 
look  like  a  little  bundle  of  drift,  roof  the  house 
with  thorns  and  make  the  doorway  on  the  under 


.>CW: 


I'hoto  by  \\ .  L.  Fii 


VERDIN,  NEST,  AND  YOUNG 
I  hung  out  on  a  plain  bare  branch  with  1 


L  leaf  to  hide  it 


of  drift  caught  by  the  high  water.  Out  of 
curiosity.  I  went  cl(jser  and  found  a  small  round 
hole  in  the  side.  In  a  few  minutes,  here  came 
a  tiny  olive-gray  bird,  yellow  on  the  neck  and 
head  and  a  chestnut  patch  on  the  shoulder.  He 
was  about  the  size  of  a  Chickadee  and  I  could 
tell  he  was  a  cousin  of  the  Chickadee  by  his  ac- 
tions. This  was  our  introduction  to  the  Verdin. 
I  was  not  accustomed  to  seeing  a  nest  hung 
out  on  a  plain  bare  branch  with  not  a  leaf  to  hide 
it.  When  I  looked  about,  I  saw  that  the  Verdin 
didn't  have  much  choice  for  a  nest-site,  for  there 
was   nothing   for   a   mile   around   except   cactus. 


side.     1  had  to  look  all  around  before  I  discovered 
this  doorway. 

This  bird,  which  I  took  to  be  the  female,  had 
a  morsel  in  her  bill.  She  hopped  into  the  house 
and  was  out  again  and  off  on  the  hunt,  paying 
no  attention  to  us.  We  sat  down  about  fifteen 
feet  away.  In  a  few  moments,  the  male  Verdin 
came  headlong  with  a  mouthful  of  green  measur- 
ing-worms. He  brought  up  with  a  surprised 
jerk  and  fidgeted  as  if  lie  didn't  know  just  what 
to  do.  He  was  evidently  saying  to  himself, 
"Who  are  they?  What  do  they  want?"  He 
came  to  the  conclusion  he  would  fool  us,  so  he 


2l8 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


Mi 


Drawing  by  R    I    Brasher 

WREN-TIT  (i  nat.  size) 
Prudent  to  the  point  of  secretiveness 


s\vall(.nvcd  the  bite  and  went  hunting  through  an 
adjoining  bush  to  show  us  that  he  was  merely 
skirmishing  to  appease  his  own  appetite  and  that 
he  had  neither  nest  nor  children. 

\Mien  we  lirst  found  the  X'crdin's  nest,  the 
doorway  was  a  round  hole  in  the  side.  By  get- 
ting the  light  just  right,  we  could  look  inside.  A 
week  later  when  we  visited  the  same  home,  we 
were  surprised  not  to  see  the  door  at  all.  The 
birds  evidently  thought  we  had  been  too  curious, 
so  they  built  a  little  roof  and  porch,  sloping  it 
out  and  straight  down,  so  that  I  had  to  get  down 
on  my  hands  and  knees  to  look  up  to  find  the 
doorway,  for  the  entrance  was  now  in  'the 
bottom. 

The  Verdin  makes  u:;e  of  his  home  not  onlv 
during  the  summer  to  raise  a  family,  but  he  often 
uses  it  in  winter  as  a  sleeping  place.  Many  birds 
abandon  the  nest  as  soon  as  the  children  leave 
home  and  it  then  falls  to  ruin.  Not  so  with  the 
Verdin ;  he  keeps  his  in  repair.  He  is  such  a 
tiny  fellow,  he  needs  a  protected  place  for  sleep. 
So  he  has  learned  to  use  his  own  roof  during  the 
winter  season.  William  L.  Finley, 


WREN-TITS 

Order   Passcrcs;  suborder  Oscincs;  family  Chaiitccidce 

LTHOUGH  the  characters  of  the  single  genus  which  constitutes  the  family 
of  Wren-Tits  are  in  the  main  intermediate  between  those  of  the  Titmice 
family  and  those  of  the  Wren  family,  they  are  not  all  so,  and  there  can  be 
no  question,  says  Robert  Ridgway,  that  it  is  an  isolated  type  and  should 
be  regarded  as  a  distinct  family. 

The  chief  anatomical  characteristics  of  the  Wren-Tits  are:  bill  much 
shorter  than  the  head,  compressed,  and  strongly  curved  above;  well- 
developed  bristles  at  the  corners  of  the  mouth;  the  feathers  of  the  neck  and 
chin  terminated  by  distinct  though  fine  bristles ;  wings  rather  short  and  much 
rounded;  tail,  much  longer  than  wing,  graduated  for  nearly  one  half  its 
length,  the  feathers  rather  narrow,  but  gradually  widening  to  the  tip,  which 
They  are  found  in  the  Pacific  coast  district  from  Oregon  south  to  northern 


is  rounded 

Lower  California  and  east  to  the  interior  of  California. 


WREN-TIT 
Chamaea  fasciata  fasciata  (  Gambel) 

A.    O.   U.    \umber  742 


General  Description. —  Length,  7  inches.  Upper 
parts,  brownish-ohve ;  under  parts,  pale  huffy-cinnamon. 

Color. — Above,  plain  brownish-olive,  the  crown, 
hindneck,  wing  and  tail  feathers  slightly  grayer,  sides 
of  head  and  neck,  paler  grayish-olive  than  crown  and 
hindneck;  under  parts,  pale  bufFy-cinnainon  deepening 
into  drab  or  buffy-drab  on  sides,  flanks,  and  under  tail- 
coverts  ;  iris,  white. 


Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest  :  In  low  bushes,  seldom 
more  than  4  feet  up.  compactly  put  together  witli  tliick 
walls;  constructed  of  fine  strips  of  hark,  roots,  grasses, 
and  lined  with  horse  hair  or  cattle  hair.  Eggs  :  3  to  5, 
usually  4.  pale  bluish-green. 

Distribution, —  The  eastern  and  southern  shores 
of  San  Francisco  Bay  and  in  the  adjacent  Santa 
Clara  Vallev. 


KINGLETS  AND  GNATCATCHERS 


219 


The  Wren-Tits  have  !nn<,'  had  the  di'.tinction 
of  heins  the  only  family  of  perchini;  birds 
peculiar  to  the  continent  of  North  America. 
The  one  species  is  found  exclusively  in  the  Pacific 
coast  district  of  the  United  States. 

The  Wren-Tits  are  divided  locally,  because  of 
slight  variatidus.  into  four  ,L;rou]is  —  the  type 
species  {Cliitiiiu-a  f,:sciatii  ftisciala).  the  I'allid 
^^'ren-Tits   (Cliaiiuca  fasciata  licnsluvK'i ) .  Coast 


Wren-Tits  {  Clnniitru  fasciata  plnca).  and 
Ruddy  Wren-Tils  iCIuiiiht'ii  fusriala  nifiiUi). 
The\'  are  small  terresli'ial  birds,  living-  in  the 
dense  chaiiarral  oi  the  hillsitles  and  the  Idwer 
mountain  slopes.  Prudent  tn  the  point  of  secre- 
tiveness  tlie\-  will  rem.ain  secnrel\-  hidden  from 
sight  while  their  merrv  /\r('/'-/.-<-<'/i-/.-iT/'-/>'cr/'- 
kce/^'it,  kccf^-it.  krcj^-it  (Airs.  P.ailey )  rings  in 
vour  ears. 


KINGLETS    AND    GNATCATCHERS 

Order  Passcics;  suborder  Osciiics:  family  Sylvilihc 

HE  Syh'iidcc  family  is  part  of  the  larger  group  of  singing  Ijirds.  It  is  found 
in  the  northern  hemisphere  in  general  and  in  the  greater  part  of  the  tropical 
countries  of  the  western  hemisphere;  it  is  most  numerously  represented  in 
the  northern  part  of  the  eastern  hemisphere.  It  contains  a  wide  variety  of 
forms.  The  relatively  few  American  forms  belong  to  two  groups,  one  of 
which,  the  Gnatcatchers,  consisting  of  a  single  genus,  is  peculiar  to  America, 
while  the  other  includes  two  genera,  one  of  which,  the  Kinglets,  is  circumpolar 
and  the  other,  the  Willow  Warblers,  is  of  northern  Europe  and  Asia,  but 
is  sometimes  included  among  the  birds  of  North  America  because  of  the 
occurrence  of  a  single  Siberian  species  {Acaulliopnaislc  borcalis),  in  western 
Alaska. 
The  American  forms  of  the  family  are  distinguished  by  the  following  characteristics: 

bill,  much  shorter  than  the  head,  slender,  and  rather  broad  and  depressed  at  the  base;  nostril 

at   least   partly    exposed,    sometimes   partly   covered   by   bristly   feathers   turned   upward; 

distinct  bristle's  at  the  corners  of  the  mouth;  wings,  rather  long  but  with  rounded  tip;  tail, 

variable  as  to  relative  length  but  usually  decidedly  shorter  than  the  wings   (longer  only 

among  the  Gnatcatchers),  even,  notched,  slightly  double-rounded,  or  (in  the  Gnatcatcher 

group)  much  rounded,  the  feathers  usually  broad 

and  rounded  at  the  tips  but  sometimes  (in  the 

Kinglet  genus)  somewhat  pointed. 

In  coloration,  the  Sylviida:  are  plain  olive, 

olive-green,  brown,  or  bluish-grav  above;  wings 

and  tail,  sometimes  crown  also,  Idack,  and  side 

tail-feathers  partly  white  in  the  Gnatcatchers, 

the  crown  of  the  Kinglets  with  a  yellow,  orange, 

or  red  patch,  and  under  parts  whitish, yellowish. 

or  pale  grayish.      The  sexes  are  usttally  alike 

or  nearly  so,  and  the  young  as  a  rule   do   not 

differ  materially  from   the  adults  —  the  young 

of    the   Kinglets  lack    the    patch  of  color   on 

the  crown,   and  the  female  and  young  of  the 

Gnatcatchers  never  have  black  on  the  crown. 

The  Kinglets  and  Gnatcatchers  are  closely  related  to  the  Thrushes,  but  their  dimniutive 

size  and  the  unspotted  young  are  unfailing  differences.     The  SylviiJcc,  however,  ])robaI)ly 

render  more  service   to  man   than  the  Thrushes.     Their  diet  is  more  nearly  exclusively 

insectivorous  and  they  destroy  numbers  of  leaf-eating  larvae  and  plant  lice. 


R.  B.  Horsfall         Courtesy  of  Nat.  Asso.  Aud.  hoc, 
GOLDEN-CROWNED    KINGLETS 


BIRDS   OF    AMERICA 


GOLDEN-CROWNED    KINGLET 


Regulus  satrapa  satrapa     Lichtcnstcln 


A.    n.    U.    Niiml.er    748 

Other  Names. —  Goldeii-crested  Kinglet:  Gnlden- 
crowned  Wren;  Flame-crest:  Fiery-crowned  Wren: 
Gold-crest. 

General  Description. —  Length,  4' 4  inches.  Upper 
parts,  gray  :  under  parts,  olive-whitish. 

Color. —  Adult  M.\le:  Front  portion  of  forehead 
and  a  broad  stripe  over  the  eyes,  dull  white  or  pale 
gray:  within  this  a  broad  J'-shapcd  mark  of  black, 
inclosing  a  narroiccr  one  of  ycUozi',  icithiii  u'liich  is 
a  large  fiatcli  of  bright  orange  or  cadmium  orange. 
occupying  center  of  crown  and  projecting  over  back 
of  head:  back  of  head  (beneath  rear  portion  of 
orange-colored  crest),  hindneck,  and  upper  back, 
mouse-gray:  rest  of  back,  grayish-olive,  changing  grad- 
ually into  brighter  or  more  greenish-olive  on  rump 
and  upper  tail-coverts  :  wings  and  tail,  dusky  with  light 
yellowish-olive  edgings ;  the  middle  and  greater  wing- 
coverts,  broadly  tipped  with  pale  olive-yellow  or  yel- 
lowish-white: secondaries  crossed  by  a  basal  (con- 
cealed) band  of  pale  yellow,  immediately  succeeded 
by  an  exposed  one  of  dusky ;  an  indistinct,  or  at  least 
not  sharply  defined,  dusky  streak  across  the  lores  and 
back  of  the  eyes,  and,  usually,  a  similar  streak  at  the 
corner  of  the  mouth:  rest  of  sides  of  head,  together 
with  under  parts,  plain  dull  olive-whitish,  the  sides 
and    flanks    faintly    tinged    with    more    yellowish-olive : 


Si-f    (-,,l,,r    I'latc    104 

iris,  brown.  .Adult  Female:  Similar  to  the  adult 
male,  but  orange  crown-patch  entirely  replaced  by 
canary-yellow. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest  :  Spherical,  about  four  and 
a  half  inches  in  diameter,  composed  exteriorly  chiefly 
of  green  moss,  lined  with  fine  strips  of  bark  and  fine 
rootlets,  surmounted  by  numerous  feathers  of  various 
wild  birds,  arranged  with  points  of  quills  downward 
and  forming  a  screen  that  effectually  conceals  the 
eggs ;  semi-pensile  or  not,  being  sometiines  supported 
beneath  and  sometimes  fastened  by  top  and  sides  to 
the  needles  of  the  coniferous  tree  in  which  it  is  usually 
placed,  generally  at  a  height  50  or  60  feet  from  the 
ground.  Eggs  :  5  to  10,  varying  from  creamy-white 
to  buff,  sprinkled  with  numerous  spots  or  blotches  of 
pale  brown,  chiefly  around  larger  end,  and  placed  in 
the  nest  cavity  in  a  double  layer  as  the  space  is  too 
small  to  hold  them   in  one. 

Distribution. —  North  America  east  of  Rocky 
Mountains  :  north  to  Labrador,  Keewatin,  etc. :  breed- 
ing southward  to  Massachusetts,  central  New  York, 
northern  Michigan,  northern  Minnesota  (?),  etc.,  and 
along  Allegheny  Mountains  to  western  North  Carolina 
(in  spruce  belt):  wintering  southward  to  northern 
b'lorida.  and  westward  along  Gulf  coast  to  south- 
central    Texas. 


GOLDEN-CROWNED  KINGLET  (nat.  size) 
A  dainty,  feathered  mite 


KINGLETS  AND  GNATCATCHERS 


RUBY-CROWNED    KINGLET 
Regulus  calendula  calendula   (  Liiiiuciis) 


Other  Names. —  Ruhy-crowned  Wren  :  Riihv-crown  ; 
Ruby-crowned   Warbler. 

General  Description. —  Length,  4!,_.  inclies.  Unper 
parts,   olive;   under  parts,  grayish-buflfy. 

Color. —  .-\dl'lt  M.\le:  Above,  plain  grayish-olive 
on  the  head,  gradually  assuming  a  more  decided  olive 
hue  on  back,  the  rump  and  upper  tail-coverts,  more 
greenish-olive ;  a  large,  concealed  fan  or  zvciUjc-sliafi'd 
patch  of  clear  fcnnilion-rcd  hciiinning  at  center  of 
crozi'ii  and  overlapping  back  of  head;  wings  and  tail, 
dusky  with  light  yellowish-olive  or  olive-yellow  edg- 
ings, middle  coverts  narrowly  tipped  with  pale  grayish- 
olive,  the  greater  coverts  more  broadly  tipped  with 
dull  white  (forming  two  bands  across  wing),  the 
inner  wing  quills  broadly  edged  with  dull  whitish; 
a  broad  whitish  eye-ring,  interrupted  on  upper  eyelid, 
the  eyelids  themselves,  black  ;  rest  of  head,  gray  fading 
into  pale  grayish-butTy  on  chin,  throat,  and  chest,  the 
remaining    under    parts    similar    but    more    yellowish. 


especially  on  flanks,  the  abdomen  and  under  tail- 
coverts  olive-whitish;  iris,  dark  brown.  .Ann.T  Female; 
Similar  to  adult  male,  but  without  the  red  crown-patch. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest;  Semipensile,  placed  almost 
invariably  near  or  at  end  of  a  coniferous  tree  usually 
within  25  feet  of  ground;  neatly  and  compactly  built, 
with  soft  thick  walls  made  of  moss,  fine  strips  of 
bark,  grasses,  and  cocoons  and  lined  warmly  with 
feathers  and  hair.  Eggs:  5  to  g,  dull  white  or  pale 
buffy.  speckled  chiefly  around  larger  end  with  light 
brown. 

Distribution. —  North  .America  in  general,  in  wooded 
districts,  north  to  the  limit  of  tree  growth,  in  Labrador, 
northern  Keewatin,  Mackenzie,  Yukon,  and  Alaska  (to 
valley  of  Kowak  River)  ;  breeding  southward  to  Que- 
bec, northern  Michigan,  and  high  mountains  of  New 
Me.xico.  Arizona,  and  northern  California;  in  winter 
southward  entirely  across  United  States,  and  over 
whole  of  Me.xico  to  higlilands  of  Guatemala. 


The  genus  to  which  the  little  Kinglets  belong 
is  called  Rcgtiliis.  the  translation  of  which  is 
"  petty  king,"  in  recognition  of  the  patch  of  yel- 
low, orange,  or  scarlet,  shown  on  the  toj)  of  the 
birds'  head  and  which  suggests  a  crown.  These 
dainty  little  feathered  "  Hop-o-My-Thumbs,"  as 
Mr.  Burroughs  aptly  called  them,  are  the  small- 
est of  our  birds,  the  Hummingbirds  alone  ex- 
cepted. There  is  but  a  slight  difference  in  their 
size,  and  little  in  their  general  coloring,  excepting 


the  distinctive  marks  indicated  by  their  names: 
and  their  habits  also  are  similar. 

In  the  Ruby-crowned  species  this  mark  is 
likely  to  be  altogether  overlooked,  unless  the  bird 
is  excited  or  angry.  "  How  does  the  Ruby- 
crowned  Kinglet  know  he  has  a  bit  of  color  on 
his  crown  which  he  can  tincover  at  will,  and  that 
this  has  great  charms  for  the  female?"  asks  Mr. 
Burroughs.  "  Dtiring  the  rivalries  of  the  males 
in  the  mating  season,  and  in  autumn  also,  thev 


Drawing  by  R.  I.  Brasher 

RUBY-CROWNED  KINGLET  (  ;  nat. 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


flash  this  brilliant  ruby  at  each  other.  1  witnessed 
what  seemed  to  be  a  competitive  display  of  this 
kind  one  evening  in  November.  I  was  walking 
along  the  road,  when  my  ear  was  attracted  by  the 
fine,  shrill  lisping  and  piping  of  a  small  band  of 
these  birds  in  an  apple-tree.  I  paused  to  see  what 
was  the  occasion  of  so  much  noise  and  bluster 
among  these  tiny  bodies.  There  were  four  or 
five  of  them,  all  more  or  less  excited,  and  two  of 
them  especially  so.  I  think  the  excitement  of  the 
others  was  only  a  reflection  of  that  of  these  two. 
These  were  hopping  around  each  other,  appar- 
ently peering  down  upon  something  beneath 
them.  I  suspected  a  cat  concealed  behind  the 
wall,  and  so  looked  over,  but  there  was  nothing 
there.  Observing  them  more  closely,  I  saw  that 
the  two  birds  were  entirely  occupied  with  each 
other. 

"They  behaved  exactly  as  if  they  were  compar- 
ing crowns,  and  each  extolling  his  own.  Their 
heads  were  bent  forward,  the  red  crown  patch 
uncovered  and  showing  as  a  large,  brilliant  cap, 
their  tails  were  spread,  and  the  side  feathers  be- 
low the  wings  were  fluffed  out.  They  did  not 
come  to  blows,  but  followed  each  other  about 
amid  the  branches,  uttering  their  thin,  shrill  notes 
and  displaying  their  ruby  crowns  to  the  utmost. 
Evidently  it  was  some  sort  of  strife  or  dispute  or 
rivalry  that  centered  about  this  brilliant  patch." 
{Far  and  Near.) 

It  is  not  to  be  inferred  from  this  graphically 
described  episode  that  these  feathered  mites  are 
pugnacious  or  quarrelsome  creatures.  Certainly 
Mr.  Burroughs  could  not  have  meant  to  convey 
any  such  idea.  Rather  it  was  simply  a  little 
difference  of  opinion  such  as  may  arise  between 
any  two  birds.  Even  human  beings  have  been 
known  to  hold  different  opinions  concerning  the 
same  subject,  each  defending  his  view  and  con- 
demning the  other's  by  language  and  conduct 
sometimes  no  less  violent  than  that  of  Mr.  Bur- 
roughs's  Kinglets.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  not  only 
are  both  species  of  Kinglets  essentially  peaceable, 
but  they  seem  normally  to  be  happy-hearted  and 
care-free,  like  their  larger  cousins,  the  Chicka- 
dees, in  whose  company  they  are  often  found, 
and  with  whom  they  seem  always  to  be  on  most 
friendly  terms. 

Like  the  Chickadees,  too,  the  Kinglets,  averag- 
ing about  an  inch  shorter  and  much  more  fragile 
in  their  appearance,  seem  to  enjoy  the  bitterest 
and  stormiest  winter  weather.  How  such  deli- 
cate creatures  manage  not  only  to  survive  a 
characteristic  New  England  winter  storm,  but 
to  be  cheerful  and  industrious  through  it  all,  is  a 
nine-davs'  wonder.  Yet  it  is  undeniably  true 
that  strong,  hardened  and  warmly-clad  men  have 


perisiied  in  storms  and  cold  which  do  not  affect 
even  the  apparent  happiness  of  these  weak  little 
folk  with  only  a  thin  coat  of  feathers  to  protect 
their  bodies  from  the  killing  blasts,  ^^'hat  con- 
stitutions they  mtist  have ! 

Unlike  the  partly  concealed  marking  which 
gives  the  Ruby-crowned  Kinglet  his  name,  the 
corresponding  ornamentation  of  the  Golden- 
crowned  species  is  always  plainly  observable  if 
the  bird's  head  be  in  full  view.  In  the  thick  foli- 
age of  coniferous  trees,  the  bird  is  not  easy  to 
observe  closely,  but  it  is  very  conspicuotis  in 
deciduous  trees  from  which  the  foliage  has 
fallen. 

The  songs  of  the  two  birds  differ  greatly. 
That  of  the  Golden-crowned  bird,  Mr.  Brewster 
says,  "  begins  with  a  succession  of  five  or  six 
fine,  shrill,  high-pitched,  somewhat  faltering 
notes,  and  ends  with  a  short,  rapid  rather  ex- 
plosive warble.  The  opening  notes  are  given  in 
a  rising  key,  but  the  song  falls  rapidly  at  the 
end.  The  whole  may  be  expressed  as  follows ; 
t::ce.  tzce.  tzcc.  tzcc.  fi,  ti,  tcr.  ti-ti-ti-ti."  The 
song  of  the  Ruby-crowned  species  is  much  more 
elaborate  and  musical.  In  describing  it  as  he 
first  heard  it.  Dr.  Chapman  writes  :  "  The  longer 
and  more  eagerly  I  followed  the  unseen  singer, 
the  greater  the  mystery  became.  It  seemed 
impossible  that  a  bird  which  I  supposed  was  at 
least  as  large  as  a  Bluebird  could  escape  obser- 
vation in  the  partly  leaved  trees.  The  song  was 
mellow  and  flute-like,  and  loud  enough  to  be 
heard  several  hundred  yards ;  an  intricate  warble 
past  imitation  or  description,  and  rendered  so 
admirably  that  I  never  hear  it  now  without  feel- 
ing an  impulse  to  applaud.  The  bird  is  so  small, 
the  song  so  rich  and  full,  that  one  is  reminded 
of  a  chorister  with  the  voice  of  an  adult  soprano." 

Both  the  Ruby-crown  and  the  Golden-crown 
are  represented  in  western  North  America  by 
variant  forms.  The  Western  Golden-crowned 
Kinglet  (Rcguliis  satrapa  oUvaccus)  has  shorter 
wings  and  tail  and  a  more  slender  bill  than  his 
eastern  brother  and  the  olive  of  his  upper  parts 
is  brighter  and  more  greenish.  He  breeds  from 
Kodiak  Island  and  Kenai  Peninsula,  Alaska, 
south  through  eastern  Oregon  to  San  Jacinto 
Mountains,  California.  The  winters  he  spends 
from  British  Columbia  to  the  highlands  of 
Mexico  and  Guatemala.  The  Sitka,  or  Grin- 
nell's  Ruby-crowned,  Kinglet  {Regiilus  calendula 
grinneUi)  is  similar  to  the  more  widely  distrib- 
uted Ruby-crown,  but  he  has  a  shorter  wing  and 
a  larger  bill,  and  his  coloration  is  decidedly 
darker.  He  breeds  in  the  Pacific  coast  district 
from  Alaska  to  British  Columbia  and  winters 
south  to  middle  California. 


Courti-sv  of  the  New  Y.„k  Stat.-  Mi.seun 


Plate    I&4 


^t'^ 

^H./ 

//*^'^^, 


• 


/.^r  :^^?f^'?  ii/^^;^^ 


KINGLETS  AND  GNATCATCHERS 


223 


BLUE-GRAY    GNATCATCHER 

Polioptila  cserulea  caerulea   {Liiimciis) 

A     I),    r.    Nuniliir    r^i       See    Color    Plate    104 


Other  Names. —  Common  Gnatcatclier  :  Little  BIii- 
isli-srav  Wren;  Small  Bhie-ijray  Flycatcher:  Sylvan 
Flycatcher. 

General  Description. —  Length.  4  1  _;  inches.  L'pper 
parts,  bluish-gray;  under  parts,  whitish. 

Color. —  Adl'I-T  M.\le;  Crown  and  hindneck,  idain 
bluish-gray,  the  back,  shoulders,  rump,  and  lesser 
wing-coverts  slightly  paler  and  less  bluish  ;  froiil  por- 
tion of  forehead  and  sides  of  foreliead  and  rroii';;, 
black,  fonnin;/  a  coiisl'icuous  U-sliaj^ed  marl::  wings, 
dull  slate  color  with  pale  gray  edgings,  these  much 
broader  and  much  paler  gray  (sometimes  wdnitish) 
on  inner  wing  quills;  upper  tail-coverts  and  tail,  black. 
the  outermost  tail-featliers  e.vteusi-i'eJy  U'hite.  with 
blackish  shafts,  the  white  occupying  the  whole  of  the 
exposed  portion  of  both  webs  on  the  outermost  feather, 
extending  more  nearly  to  base  on  outer  web  than  on 
inner,  the  second  feather  with  terminal  half  (approxi- 
mately) white,  the  third  broadly  tipped  with  white; 
sides  of  head,  pale  bluish-gray;  a  white  eye-ring; 
under  parts,  white,  the  throat,  chest,  and  sides, 
especially  the  chest,  faintly  shaded  with  pale  bluish- 
gray ;  bill,  black:  iris,  brown.  Anui.T  Fkmai.k:  Similar 
to  the  adult   male,   but  gray  of  upper  parts  less  lihiish. 


atid  without  tlie  U-shaiied  mark  on  forehead  and  sides 
of   crown. 

Nest  and  Eggs.  Nkst  :  Interior  aliout  i '  ..  inches 
deep  and  about  the  same  in  diameter,  perfectly  cup- 
shaped,  gracefully  contracted  at  brim;  coinposed  of 
soft,  silky  milkweed  or  cat-tail  down,  withered  blos- 
soms, or  other  dainty  material,  pinned  together  with 
fine  grasses,  old  leaf  stems,  and  horse-hair;  exterior 
decorated  with  lichens,  held  on  by  spider-webs ;  usually 
saddled  on  a  horizontal  limb,  sometimes  in  a  sapling 
fork,  about  15  feet  from  the  ground;  in  the  former 
situation  it  resembles  a  knot  on  the  limb.  Egcs  :  4  or 
5,  greenish  or  bluish-white  speckled  with  chestnut, 
umber-brown,  or  lilac. 

Distribution. —  Eastern  United  States;  north  (breed- 
ing) to  New  Jersey,  southeastern  and  southwestern 
Pennsylvania,  southern  Ontario,  southern  Michigan, 
northern  Illinois,  southern  Iowa,  and  eastern  Nebraska, 
occasionally  or  accidentally  to  Long  Island,  Connecti- 
cut. Rhode  Island,  Afassachusetts,  Maine,  northern 
Michi.gan.  and  Minnesota ;  breeding  southward  to 
Florida.  Louisiana,  and  southern  Texas;  wintering  in 
Florida  and  other  Gulf  .States  and  southward  to 
Ilahamas,  Cuba,  and  Mexico  to  Yucatan  and  Guatemala. 


Drawing  by  R.  I.  Brasher 

BLUE-GRAY  GNATCATCHER  I ;  nat.  size) 
A  fussy  and  fearless  little  fellow  who  doesn't  hesitate  to  attack  a  bird  lire  times  his  size 


224 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


The  Blue-gray  Gnatcatcher  is  one  of  the  sweet- 
est singing  birds  of  the  soutliland,  but  owing 
to  the  weakness  of  its  voice  it  can  be  heard  only 
a  short  distance.  In  spring  one  may  pass  through 
a  woodland  resonant  with  the  songs  and  cries  of 
mating  birds  and  never  suspect  that  one  of  the 
most  abundant  of  all  the  feathered  inhabitants 
of  the  region  is  the  little  gray  Gnatcatcher.  In 
form  it  strikingly  resembles  a  Mockingbird,  but 
its  diminutive  size  precludes  the  possibihty  of 
confusion  with  that  bird. 

The  lichen-covered  nest  is  usually  placed  on 
the  horizontal  limb  of  an  oak  or  other  deciduous 
tree.  The  nest  is  begun  in  the  early  spring  and 
may  easily  be  seen  from  the  ground  below.  It 
is  usually  placed  in  such  a  position,  however, 
that  when  the  leaves  on  the  surrounding  twigs 
are  fully  grown,  it  is  completely  hidden  from 
view.  Both  birds  labor  at  the  task  of  nest 
buikhng,  and  also  share  alike  the  duties  of  incu- 
bation and  caring  for  the  young.  Many  kinds 
of  birds  maintain  a  discreet  silence  when  near 


the  nests,  but  not  so  with  the  Blue-gray  Gnat- 
catcher. Sometimes  he  may  be  found  exercis- 
ing his  vocal  power  to  his  little  utmost  when  the 
female  is  brooding  only  a  few  feet  away.  On 
more  than  one  occasion  I  have  watched  a  male 
Gnatcatcher  singing  with  might  and  main  as  he 
sat  on  the  eggs  taking  his  turn  at  housekeeping. 

As  the  name  of  this  bird  implies,  it  is  insectiv- 
orous in  its  feeding  habits.  Hence  it  is  migra- 
tory. Until  of  late  it  has  been  supposed  that 
none  of  the  species  passed  the  winter  north  of 
Florida.  Recently,  however,  Arthur  T.  Wayne 
has  proved  that  some  of  them  spend  the  colder 
months  in  swamps  as  far  north  as  South  Caro- 
lina. 

In  the  w-estern  United  States  and  Mexico  is 
found  the  Western  Gnatcatcher  (Polioptila 
acnilca  obsciira).  a  variant  form  of  the  Blue- 
gray.  The  gray  of  its  upper  parts  is  slightly 
duller  and  the  black  at  the  base  of  inner  web  of 
the  outer  tail-feathers  is  more  extended  than  in 
the  Blue-gray.  T.  Gilbert  Pearson. 


THRUSHES 

Order  Passcrcs;  suborder  Oscincs;  family  Tiirdidcr 


HE  Thrushes  belong  to  the  singing  birds.  Their  bills  are  slender  and  small 
and  the  upper  mandible  grows  slightly  thicker  toward  the  apex.  The  space 
in  front  of  the  eyes  is  wide. 

The  various  members  of  the  Thrushes  present  wide  differences  in  gen- 
eral appearance,  form,  coloration,  and  habits.  Some  live  among  the  trees, 
others  on  the  ground,  and  others  among  rocks.  Some  eat  fruits,  others  in- 
sects —  though  many  kinds  feed  upon  both  fruits  and  berries  and  insects. 
They  may  be  plainly  colored  or  of  brilliant  hues,  though  the  latter  is  ex- 
ceptional, the  former  being  the  rule. 

The  young  of  the  Thrush  family  differ  from  the  aditlts  in  having  the 
upper  and  under  parts  spotted,  whether  that  is  or  is  not  the  case  in  the  adult. 
This  family  trait  is  particularly  noticeable  in  the  Robin.  The  autumn  molt  is  the  only  com- 
plete change  of  feathers  during  the  year.  In  the  spring  the  points  of  the  feathers  are  cast 
off  and  any  extremely  worn  feathers  are  replaced  by  new  ones.  The  young  birds  have  a 
complete  molt  before  they  migrate  in  their  first  autumn. 

The  family  is  remarkable  for  the  number  of  excellent  songsters  it  contains,  the  Euro- 
pean Nightingale  and  the  American  Hermit  Thrush,  \'eery,  and  Wood  Thrush  being  re- 
nowned in  this  respect. 

The  Thrushes,  as  a  group,  are  nearly  cosmopolitan,  only  parts  of  Polynesia  having 
none.  They  are  most  numerously  represented  in  Europe  and  northern  and  central  Asia.  The 
family  is  well  developed  in  the  Americas,  especially  in  the  mountainous  district  extending 
from  Mexico  to  the  central  Andes,  the  total  number  of  species  and  subspecies  now  known  to 
occur  in  the  two  continents  being  about  one  hundred  and  fifty. 


THRUSHES 


TOWNSEND'S  SOLITAIRE 
Myadestes    townsendi    (.■hidiiboii) 


General  Description. —  Length,  8  inches.  Phimage. 
brownish-gray,  paler  below.  Bill,  .short  and  broad : 
wings,  moderately  long,  rounded  :  tail,  about  the  same 
length  as  wing,  double  rounded :  legs,  short  and  slender. 

Color. —  Above,  plain  brownish-gray,  the  under  parts 
similar  but  sli,ghtly  paler,  especially  on  chin,  throat, 
and  abdomen  ;  the  under  tail-coverts  broadly  but  rather 
indistinctly  tipped  with  dull  white ;  an  eye-ring  of  dull 
white;  lores,  dusky:  wings,  dark  grayish-brown,  witli 
lighter  brownish-gray  edgings,  the  secondaries  and 
inner  primaries  buff  basally  (mostly  hidden  by  greater 
and  primary  coverts),  and  with  a  broad  dusky  space 
intervening  between  this  buffy  portion  and  the  grayish- 
edged  terminal  portion;  inner  quills  margined  terminally 
with  dull  white  (except  in  worn  plumage);  middle 
pair  of  tail-feathers  concolor  with  back,  or  the  outer- 
most with  terminal  half  of  outer  web  dull  white,  the 
inner  web  broadly  tipped  with  wliite,  this  white  extend- 
ing along  shaft  for  a  considerable  distance,  the  second 
feather  with  a  similar  but  much  smaller  white  tip ; 
under  wing-coverts  mixed  pale  brownish-gray  and  dull 
white:    under    surface    of    wing    feathers,    showing    an 


oblique  basal  and  subbasal  band  of  buff;  bill,  black: 
iris,   brown. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Xe.st:  On  the  ground,  or  on  a 
log  or  stump,  or  in  rubbish:  often  in  a  bank-niche  by 
a  stream  or  sometimes  in  a  rocky  crevice;  rather  large 
and  loosely  made  of  sticks,  grasses,  or  pine-needles 
and  weed  stalks;  on  this  large  foundation  is  placed 
the  real  nest,  made  of  finer  bits  of  similar  material, 
but  the  whole  carelessly  and  loosely  constructed  ;  the 
mass  of  materia!  hanging  below  frequently  betrays  the 
nest,  especially  when  it  is  placed  among  rocks.  Eggs  ; 
3    til   (1,   bluish-white,    freckled   with    reddish-brown. 

Distribution. —  Mountain  districts  of  western  North 
.America;  breeding  (in  pine  forests)  from  ."Maska 
(heights  above  Bennett;  1500  feet  above  Caribou 
Crossing;  Lake  Lebarge;  Yukon  River,  20  miles  above 
Circle)  and  Northwest  Territory  (Miles  Canon;  Sem- 
enow  Hills)  and  from  the  coast  ranges  to  the  Black 
Hills  of  North  Dakota  and  western  Texas  south  to 
Mexico ;  wintering  from  Oregon,  Montana,  etc.,  south- 
ward ;  straggling,  in  autumn  or  winter,  to  Kansas, 
Nebraska  and  nortliwestern  Illinois. 


Along:  the  wooded  heigl.'ts  of  tlie  western 
mountains,  the  Townsend's  Solitaire  has  its 
abode.  Of  all  the  North  .American  Thrushes  it 
is  the  loftiest  dweller.  Along  the  steep  moun- 
tain slopes,  where  streams  from  melting  snows 


dash  downward  to  join  the  river  below,  this 
bird  may  be  found.  At  times  one  may  come 
upon  it  running  along  the  ground  over  bowlders 
and  logs  in  a  manner  very  siiriilar  to  that  of  the 
Robin.     It  is  in  such  places  that  the  nest  of  twigs 


Drawing  by  R.  I.  Brasher 

TOWNSEND'S  SOLITAIRE  (  ;  nat.  size) 
A  sweet  and  elusive  singer  in  the  mountain  solitudes 


226 


BIRDS    OF   AMERICA 


and  pine-needles  is  hidden,  and  so  well  is  it  con- 
cealed that  a  most  laborious  search  is  often  neces- 
sary to  find  it.  The  pretty  spotted  eggs  number 
from  three  to  six. 

The  male  Solitaire  has  a  most  pleasing  song. 
From  the  top  of  some  tree  far  on  the  heights  it 
rings  out  bold  and  clear  with  a  vividness  of  ex- 
pression that  harmonizes  perfectly  with  the  wild 
surroundings.  At  other  times,  when  near  the 
nest  or  late  in  the  evening,  its  notes  are  usually 
subdued,  and  these  minor  strains  are  wonderfully 
appealing  as  one  sits  alone  in  these  mountain 
solitudes  where  few  birds  are  to  be  heard. 

Visitors  to  the  Yellowstone  National  Park  or 


the  Glacier  National  Park  often  see  these  birds 
along  the  mountain  roads  or  trails.  The  Solitaire 
is  about  the  size  of  the  Wood  Thrush,  but  is  of 
more  slender  build.  Its  form,  color,  and  move- 
ments suggest  a  lazy  Mockingbird,  and  the  re- 
semblance is  heightened  by  the  white  wing-bars 
that  traverse  the  gray  wings.  The  approach  of 
winter  early  drives  it  to  lower  levels  in  quest  of 
food.  T.  Gilbert  Pearson. 

Since  this  little  fellow  avoids  civilization  and 
makes  his  main  habitation  in  the  inaccessible 
mountain  gorges  of  the  West,  his  food  consists 
largely  of  wild  berries. 


WOOD  THRUSH 


Hylocichla  mustelina   (  Giiielin) 

A.    O.    U.    Number   755       -"^fe   Color    I'latf    105 


Other  Names.— Song  Thrush:  Wood  Robin;  Bell 
Bird  ;  Swamp  Robin. 

General  Description.—  Length.  7'4  inches.  Upper 
parts,  brown  :  under  parts,  white,  spotted.  Bill,  about 
J  J  length  of  head,  slender,  curved  downward  at  the 
tip ;  wings,  long  and  pointed ;  tail,  not  more  than  ^ 
length  of  wing,  even,  the  feathers  slightly  sharpened  at 
the  extreme  tip ;  legs,  long  and  slender. 

Color. —  Crozvn,  tinvity-brozcti  I'assiiig  into  cinnamoit- 
brozi.'!!  r)»  back  and  shoulders,  this  into  grayish-olive  on 
rump,  upper  tail-coverts,  and  tail ;  wings,  similar  in 
color  to  back  but  slightly  less  cinnamon ;  a  distinct  eye- 
rin.g  of  white;  lores  whitish.  sulTnsed  with  dusky 
grayish  in   front  of  eye;  sides  of  head,  dusky  grayish- 


brown,  narrowly  streaked  with  white;  cheeks,  white 
flecked  with  dusky;  under  parts,  white  tinged  with 
buff  on  chest;  a  broad  streak  below  cheeks  of  black 
or  dusky  along  each  side  of  throat;  chest,  sides,  and 
fla)iks,  marked  zvith  large  roundish  or  broadly  drop- 
shaped  spots  of  broziniish-black;  bill,  dusky  horn  color, 
the  basal  half  below  pale  flesh  color;  iris,  dark  brown. 
Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest  ;  Usually  in  thickets,  placed 
in  the  crotch  or  on  horizontal  limbs  of  saplings,  six 
lo  twelve  feet  from  ground ;  composed  externally  of 
leaves,  grasses,  small  twigs,  and  stems  placed  when 
damp  and  cemented  with  mud,  the  whole  quite  firm 
and  solid  when  dry;  bits  of  paper  or  rag  are  fre- 
iiuently  added  as  a  sort  of  decoration  ;  the  lining  formed 


Courtesy  of  Am.  Mus.  Nat.  Hist. 


WOOD  THRUSH 
He  frequently  makes  his  home 


'  human  habitations 


THRUSHES 


227 


of  fine  rootlets  and  grasses.  Eggs:  3  or  4,  plain 
greenish-blue,  like  the  Veery's  and  intermediate  in  size 
between  that  bird's  and  the  Robin's. 

Distribution. —  Eastern  temperate  North  .America; 
north  to  New  Hampshire  i  W'liite  Mountains).  Xevv 
York  (breeding  at  Lake  George),  northern  Ontario, 
northern    Michigan,    etc.,    accidentally    to    Maine    and 


northeastern  New  York;  west  to  middle  portion  of 
Great  Plains  (along  wooded  valleys);  breeding  south- 
ward to  northern  Morida  and  thence  westward  through 
Gulf  States  to  eastern  Te.xas ;  in  winter  southward 
through  eastern  Me.xico  and  Central  America  to  Nica- 
ragua and  Costa  Rica,  also  to  Bahamas,  Cuba,  Jamaica, 
and  Porto  Rico ;  straggler  to  the   Uermudas. 


The  Wood  Thrush  is  unlike  any  other  woods- 
dwelHng  member  of  his  famous  family  in  the 
respect  that,  though  deep  woods  are  his  natural 
and  generally  preferred  abiding  place,  he  fre- 
quently makes  his  home  near  human  habitations. 
He  seems  never  to  become  domesticated  in  the 
degree  that  the  Robins  and  the  Bluebirds  do  and 
his  demeanor  is  always  more  shy  and  retiring 
than  theirs.  Nevertheless  he  is  often  foiuid 
conducting  his  family  affairs  in  the  sliaile  trees 
or  shrubbery  very  near  the  homes  of  men,  and 
so  he  becomes  much  better  known  to  them  than 
do  the  Hermit,  the  Olive-backed,  the  Veery,  ami 
the  other  Thrushes  who  remain  essentially  birds 
of  the  woods.  He  is,  besides,  the  handsome>t 
member  of  his  tribe,  and  has  withal  the  most 
elegant  manners. 

It  is  generally  too  fanciftil  to  find  resemlilances 
between  bird  notes  and  spoken  words.  Intt  no 
one  with  an  ear  for  time  and  tune  can  deiu'  that 
bird  songs  may  —  by  coincidence,  of  course  — 
repeat  known  inusical  phrases.  So  sane  and  ac- 
curate an  observer  as  Herbert  K.  job  finds  in  the 
phrase  of  the  \\'ood  Thrush  a  distinct  suggestion 
of  "the  opening  appeal  in  A\'eher's  'Invitation 
to  the  Dance,'  and  again  the  '  sweetlv  solemn 
thought  '  of  Handel's  '  Largo  '  from  '  Xerxes."  " 
Another  bird  lover  says  that  to  his  ear,  two  suc- 
cessive renditions  of  the  Wood  Thrtish's  phrase, 
if  the  second  is  pitched  at  the  usual  interval 
above  the  first,  reproduce  very  closely  the  first 
two  phrases  of  Faust's  beautiful  a]:ipeal  to  Mar- 
guerite I  in  the  garden  ) ,  when  he  sings  : 


*l 


13 


S 


m 


1 


These  two  ])hrases  are  all  that  are  claimed  for 
the  Thrush,  and  the  pause  between  them  is,  of 
course,  much  longer  than  is  the  time  value  of 
the  quarter-rest,  according  to  the  usual  tempo 
of  Gounod's  music;  but  otherwise  the  phrases. 
in  their  intervals,  strongly  suggest  Fatist's  im- 
passioned address.  We  need  not  strain  the 
probabilities  by  fancying  that  Gotinod  mav  have 
•borrowed  the  song  of  our  Thrush,  but  we  mav, 


at  least,  take  a  little  pride  in  the  fact  that  ottr 
woods  had  heard  and  learned  to  love  this  song 
centuries  before  the  great  French  comiioser  put 


Photo  by  II.  IC.  Job  I  ,  .,Mt.  ,s  01  Oi.tini;  Pub.  Co. 

WOOD  THRtlSH  INCUBATING 

much   the   same  music   into  one  of  his  sweetest 
melodies. 

The  food  of  this  bird  con-ists  largely  of  in- 
sects, with  a  small  percentage  of  fruit.  The 
insects  eaten  inckide  grasshopjiers.  crickets,  cut- 
worms, ants,  caterpillars,  and  beetles,  including 
the  potato  beetle.  The  fruit  consumed  is 
chiefly  of  wild  varieties,  such  as  frost  grapes, 
wild  blackberries,  wild  cherries,  and  the  seeds 
of  the  spice  bush  and  southern  magnolia.  Since 
the  \\'ood  Thrush  is  a  decidedly  useful  species 
and  adapts  itself  readily  to  civilized  surround- 
ings, its  presence  about  the  farm  and  garden 
should  always  be  encouraged. 

George  Gl.\dden. 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


VEERY 
Hylocichla    fuscescens    fuscescens    (Stephens) 

A.    O.   U.   Number  756      See  Color   Plate   105 


Other  Names. —  Wilson's  Thrush:  Tawny  Thrush; 
Ni.<,'htingale. 

General  Description. —  Length,  7^4  inches.  Upper 
parts,  tavvny-brovvn ;  under  parts,  buff  and  white, 
streaked  and  spotted  with  dark.  Bill,  about  ^  length 
of  head,  slender,  gradually  and  increasingly  curved 
downward  toward  the  tip ;  wings,  rather  long  and 
pointed;  tail,  not  more  than  34  length  of  wing,  even, 
the  feathers  slightly  sharpened  at  the  extreme  tip  ;  legs, 
long  and  slender. 

Color. —  Above,  plain  tawny-brown,  the  wings  and 
tail  slightly  duller  brown,  especially  the  former ;  lores, 
dull  grayish-white ;  eyelids,  similar,  the  color  not  fonn- 
iiifi  a  distinct  cyc-ring :  sides  of  head,  rather  light 
dull  tawny-brown,  narrowly  streaked  with  dull  brown- 
ish-white ;  cheeks  dull  buffy-white,  becoming  decidedly 
buffy  behind,  where  streaked  with  tawny-brown  :  chin 
and  throat  huffy-white,  (/radiially  l^assing  into  pate 
buff  on  chest,  the  latter  tinged  with  brown  laterally; 
the  upper  chest  and  sides  of  lower  throat,  streaked  with 
tawny-brown ;    the    lower   chest,    spotted    with    a    paler 


and  slightly  grayer  tint  of  the  same;  sides  and  flanks 
light  buffy-grayish ;  the  sides  of  breast  sometimes 
faintly  spotted  with  a  darker  shade  of  the  same;  rest 
of  under  parts,  white;  bill,  dark  horn  color,  the  basal 
half   below   pale  grayish-flesh  color;    iris,  dark  brown. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest  :  At  base  of  bush  or  small 
tree;  made  of  leaves,  strips  of  grapevine  or  other  bark, 
weed  stems,  and  roots,  and  lined  with  fine  rootlets  or 
grass;  nests  have  been  found  in  tree  hollows  fifteen 
feet  from  the  ground,  but  the  usual  location  is  on  or 
near  the  ground.  Eggs  :  3  to  5,  plain  greenish-blue, 
like  a  small   Robin's  egg. 

Distribution. —  Eastern  North  .America ;  breeding 
from  northern  New  Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  northern 
Ohio,  northern  Indiana,  northern  Illinois,  central  Iowa, 
and  southeastern  South  Dakota,  northward  to  New- 
foundland. Magdalen  Islands,  and  Ontario,  and  south- 
ward along  the  Allegheny  Mountains  to  western  North 
Carolina  (3500-5000  feet);  wintering  in  South  Caro- 
lina (?).  Florida  (?),  Cuba,  coast  of  Yucatan,  Costa 
Rica,  Panama,  and  northern  South  America. 


The  Veery  is  essentially  a  bird  of  the  deep 
woods  and  the  "  silent  places."  He  is  fully  as 
shy  as  the  Hermit,  while  his  song  heightens  the 
impression  of  mystery  produced  by  his  evident 
desire  to  avoid  notice.  Indeed,  comparatively 
few  persons  certainly  identify  the  song  with  the 
singer.  A  reprint  of  the  American  Oniitlioloc/y, 
by  \\  ilson  and  Bonaparte  ( a  real  Bonaparte,  and 


writing  about  birds!),  with  poorly  executed 
wood-cuts  after  Wilson's  fine  drawings,  was  a 
standard  work  as  late  as  1885,  but  not  a  word 
is  there  in  it  about  the  Veery !  For,  as  we  know 
now,  the  very  man,  Alexander  Wilson,  in  whose 
honor  the  bird  is  often  called  "  Wilson's  Thrush," 
seems  himself  never  to  have  heard  the  unique 
and  beautiful  song  of  this  bird. 


Courtesy  of  Am.  Mus.  Nat.  Hist 
VEERY  (J  nat.  size) 
A  bird  of  the  deep  woods  and  silent  places 


THRUSHES 


The  distinctive  characteristic  of  the  \'eery's 
tone  is  a  pecuHar  resonant  quahty.  very  Hke  that 
produced  by  whisthng  into  a  lonij.  metal  tube  of. 
say,  a  foot  in  diameter.  Kesonance  in  some  de- 
gree is  not  an  uncommon  quality  in  the  tunes  nf 
several  of  the  Thrushes,  notably  the  Hermit  ;  but 
it  is  the  prevailing  characteristic  in  the  \  eery's 
song.  Nor  is  there  any  common  liird  whose 
vocalization  involves  such  a  jx-rfectly  adjusted 
tremolo  effect,  as  dainty  and  innocent  of  ap- 
parent effort  as  the  ripples  which  greet  the  light- 
est zephyr  from  the  surface  of  a  motionless  pool. 

The  song  has  been  likened  to  a  "  spiral,  treiu- 
ulous,  silver  thread  of  music,"  and  has  been  re]i- 
resented  by  means  of  connected  spirals  in  a  inii- 
formly  descending  line.  The  "  spiral  "  idea  i> 
accurate,  though  it  should  be  elaborated  by  the 
explanation  that  each  curve  is  in  the  form  of  a 
finelv  shaded  and  evenly  di\'ided  crescendu  and 
diminuendo.  The  singer  frequently  begins  by 
repeating  this  curve  once,  followed  by  three 
more  renditions,  and  those  by  two  more,  each 
group  being  distinct  ( though  the  rest  interval 
is  very  brief),  and  at  a  pitch  slightly  lower  than 
the  preceding  one.  Furthermore  the  entire  song 
is  in  diminuendo,  the  last  notes  being  noticeably 
softer  than  the  first.  In  this  respect  the  song  is 
exactly  the  reverse  of  the  Oven-bird's,  which 
begins  with  the  lowest  note  and  increases  con- 
sistently in  volume  and  pitch  to  the  final  and 
highest  one.  The  Warbler's  tone,  however,  lacks 
the  tremolo  and  resonant  qualities  of  the 
Thrush's. 

Ernest  Thompson  Seton  has  said  that  while 
it  seems  almost  profane  to  represent  this  faint, 
soft,  silvery  tinkling  of  the  Veerv's  song  bv  un- 
couth syllables,  yet  he  thought  the  best  idea  of 
the  mere  articulation  would  be  suggested  bv  the 
syllables  vccro,  vccry,  vccry.  vccrw  from  which 
no  doubt  the  singer  got  its  name. 

During  the  nesting  season  the  Veery  frequents 
the  woodlands  almost  exclusively  and  conse- 
quently its  work  is  not  of  any  great  value  to 
farmer  or  fruit-grower.  It  gets  most  of  its  food 
from  the  ground  and  like  all  Thrushes  it  feeds 
largely  upon  beetles,  snails,  and  a  great  variety 
of  insects  and  small  fruits  whenever  obtainable. 


rile  \'eery  confinc^s  its  fruit- food  alnmsl  exclu- 
si\-ely  to  wild  fruit  and  cannot  be  considered  in 
anv  wa\-  injurious. 

the  'Willow  Thrush  {  I ! yl„c!clila  fiiscrsccns 
salicicfila  }  is  a  form  of  ihe  \'eer\-  which  i>  ;i 
little  duller  in  coloration,  the  brown  of  the  ujiper 


NEST   AND  EGGS  OF  VEERY 
Usually  placed  on  or  near  the  ground 

[)arts  less  tawny  and  the  brown  streaks  on  the 
upper  chest  and  the  sides  of  the  lower  throat 
averaging  slightly  darker.  It  l.ireeds  from  south- 
ern British  Columbia,  central  .\lberta,  central 
!>askatchewan,  an<l  southern  Manitolia  south  to 
central  Oregon,  Nevada,  Utah,  northern  Xew 
Mexico,  and  central  Iowa:  it  winters  in  South 
.•\merica,  south  to  Brazil. 


GRAY-CHEEKED  THRUSH 
Hylocichla  aliciae  alicix    {Baird) 


A.    n.    V.    N'Hmber   75 

Other  Name. —  .Mice's  Tlirusli. 

General  Description. —  LeiiRth,  7'4  iiulics.  Upper 
parts,  grayish-olivc  :  iiiuler  parts,  wliitish  with  srayish- 
diisky    spots.      Hill,    ahnut    'j    length    oi    head,    slender. 


See   Culur    Plate    105 

Kradnally  and  increasingly  curved  downward  toward 
the  tip  :  wings,  ratlier  long  and  pointed  :  tail,  not  more 
than  '4  length  of  wing,  even,  the  feathers  slightly 
^harpened  at  tlic  extreme  tip  :  legs,  long  and  slender. 


2:^0 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


Color. —  Aboz'c  uniform  ijrayish-olivc,  the  tail  slightly 
browner;  sides  of  head,  mostly  grayish-olive,  paling 
slightly  around  eyes,  but  not  showing  a  distinct  cyc- 
rincj,  sides  of  head  narrowly  streaked  with  whitish: 
the  upper  portion  of  lores,  dull  whitish;  checks  buflfy- 
whitish,  tinged  with  grayish-olive  and  streaked  with  a 
darker  shade  of  the  same;  under  parts,  white,  passing 
on  sides  and  flanks  into  pale  olive-gray ;  chest,  varying 
from  bufify-white  to  pale  cream-bufif ;  a  broad  streak 
below  cheeks  of  dusky  along  each  side  of  throat;  chest 
(sometimes  lower  throat  also)  marked  with  triangular 
spots  of  grayish-dusky,  those  on  lower  part  of  chest 
more  transverse ;  breast,  especially  laterally,  with  trans- 
verse spots  of  light  grayish-olive ;  bill,  dusky,  the  basal 
half  below  pale  brownish  flesh-colored;  iris,  dark  brown. 


Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest  :  In  low  trees,  from  2  to 
7  feet  up,  occasionally  on  the  ground ;  compact  and 
large,  composed  of  interwoven  dry  grasses,  leaves, 
strips  of  fine  bark;  lined  with  fine  dried  grass;  often 
dried  moss  enters  largely  into  its  composition.  Eggs  : 
3  or  4  (usually  the  latter  number),  greenish-blue, 
speckled   with    spots   of   rusty  and  yellowish-brown. 

Distribution. — Eastern  and  northern  North  America  ; 
lireeding  from  Newfoundland  (Canada  Bay).  Magdalen 
Islands(?).  Labrador,  Ungava,  and  Keewatin,  to  Mac- 
kenzie, Alaska  (except  portion  south  and  east  of  Cross 
Sound),  and  northeastern  Siberia;  migrating  south- 
ward through  eastern  United  States  (west  to  eastern 
Montana)  to  Cuba,  Santo  Domingo,  Panama,  and 
northern    South   America. 


The  annual  northward  concert  tour  of  this 
sweet  singer  may  extend  from  Peru  to  Alasl<a. 
This  you  may  learn  by  consulting  his  itinerary 


I)ird  "  hovered  in  the  air  fifty  feet  or  more  above 
the  moor  and  repeated  its  song  three  times  very 
rapidly."     The    English   Skylark  is  famous   for 


GRAY-CHEEKED  THRUSH   (!  nat.  size) 
In  Alaska  he  may  be  heard  singing  twenty  hours  out  of  the  twenty-four 


set  forth  in  the  above  paragraph  devoted  to  his 
distribution.  In  the  long  jottrney  he  makes  fre- 
quent stops  to  fill  short  engagements  which  are 
much  appreciated  by  those  who  know  of  his  com- 
ing, and  are  familiar  with  his  program.  Then 
he  hurries  on  to  attend  to  his  (to  him)  mucli 
more  important  family  matters. 

In  Alaska,  within  a  hundred  miles  or  so  of 
that  strange  "  Land  of  the  Midnight  Sun,"  his 
song  is  heard  throughout  all  of  the  twenty-odd 
hours  of  daylight  during  his  stay,  and  very  often 
during  the  short,  make-believe  night.  Near  Port 
Clarence,  north  of  Bering  Strait,  Mr.  Burroughs 
heard  him  singing  continuouslv  in  Julv.  when 
there  was  daylight  from  about  2  a.  m.  to  about 
10  p.  M.  Incidentally  he  observed  one  member 
of  the  species  doing  a  thing  which,  he  says,  he 
had   never   seen   anv   Thrush   do  before.     This 


its  flight  song,  which  inspired  one  of  Shelley's 
most  beautiful  poems;  and  there  are  certain 
American  singers  which  have  the  same  pretty 
habit,  notably  the  Bobolink,  the  Yellow-breasted 
Chat  and  the  Oven-bird.  The  Thrushes,  how- 
ever, are  essentially  singers  from  perches,  and 
the  Robin  especially  is  likely  to  select  the  top- 
most twig  of  the  tallest  tree  available,  from 
which  to  carol  his  evening  lay.  But,  as  Mr. 
Burroughs  says,  the  gray-cheeked  singer  he 
heard  had  "  no  lofty  trees  to  perch  upon,"  so  he 
"  perched  upon  the  air." 

It  would  seem  that,  with  so  much  time  to 
])ractice,  this  Thrush  ought  to  be  a  pretty  good 
singer,  and  though  he  is  not  the  equal  of  his 
cousins,  the  Wood  Thrush,  the  Hermit,  and  the 
Veery,  his  is  by  no  means  a  poor  or  indifferent 
effort.     The  quality   of   the   tone   is  not   unlike 


THRUSHES 


231 


that  iif  tlie  V'eery,  though  it  is  somewhat  thinner. 
Mr.  liot'tnian  expresses  it  in  the  following 
syllables ;  tc-dcc.  dc-ca.  tc-dcc-cc.  adding  that 
there  is  a  shirring  elTeet  on  all  nf  the  long 
syllables.  The  call-note  is  a  sharp,  inijiatient 
fi\'-a.  often  repeated  in  an  ascending  pitch. 

During  its  spring  sojourn  this  bird  feeds 
chiefly  on  insects,  but  in  the  fall  it  prefers  wild 
fruits  and  berries,  such  as  sour  gum,  dogwood, 
poke  berries,  and  frost  grapes.     Three  stomachs 


of  the  Gray-cheeked  Thrush  taken  in  .\la\-  con- 
tained sawflv  larv;e.  ants,  catei'piilars,  AIa\  tiies, 
ground  beetles,  weeviU,  anil  scarali;eid  beetles. 

A  smaller  form  of  this  bird,  called  Ricknell's 
Thrusli  (  HylocichUi  aliciiC  bickiuili ) ,  is  often  seen 
in  the  higher  Catskills  and  in  the  dwarfed  conif- 
erous timber  high  on  the  mountains  of  northern 
New  England.  This  Thrush  was  discovered  on 
Slide  Mountain  .and  it  is  often  called  the  Slide 
Mountain  Thrush. 


RUSSET-BACKED  THRUSH 
Hylocichla    ustulata    ustulata    1  Xiitlall) 

\     II     r.    Xumbcr   -:S 


Other  Name. —  Russet-back. 

General  Description. —  Length,  yl^  inches.  Upper 
parts,  olive-brown;  under  parts,  white  and  buff  with 
spots  of  olive-brown.  Bill,  about  'j  length  of  head, 
slender,  gradually  and  increasingly  curved  downward 
toward  the  tip ;  wings,  rather  long  and  pointed ;  tail, 
not  more  than  ^4  length  of  wing,  slightly  notched,  the 
feathers  slightly  sharpened  at  the  extreme  tip ;  legs, 
lon.g  and  slender. 

Color. — Above,  plain  olive-brown,  a  coiist'ii'iiiiiis  rvc- 
ring;  lores,  pale  huff,  the  latter  obscured  with  olive- 
brownish,  especially  near  central  portion;  sides  of  lieail. 
olive-brown,  with  narrow  shaft-streaks  of  pale  bufi 
or  huffy-whitish ;  cheeks,  buffy,  streaked  with  olive- 
brownish  ;  chin,  throat,  and  chest,  buff,  the  chin  and 
throat  sometimes  buffy-white.  the  sides  of  lower  throat 
and  whole  chest  with  triangular  marks  of  deep  olive- 
brown,  these  markings  narrower  and  more  wed.ge- 
sliaped  in  front,  broader  behind,  those  on  central  por- 
tion  of   chest   darker,   sometimes   approaching   a   sooty 


hue;  a  streak  below  cheek  of  olive-brown  along  each 
side  of  throat;  breast,  abdomen,  and  under  tail-coverts. 
white,  the  upper  portion  of  the  first  (especially  on 
lateral  portions)  transversely  spotted  with  light  olive- 
brown  ;  sides  and  flanks,  pale  olive-brown  ;  under  wing- 
coverts,  pale  buffy,  suffused  with  pale  brownish  ;  bill 
dusky  brown  or  blackish,  the  basal  half  pale  dull  fleshy 
below ;   iris,   deep  brown. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nkst  :  In  bushes,  saplings,  or 
thickets,  usually  within  a  few  feet  of  the  grounfl  and 
near  water;  a  large  compact  structure  of  twigs,  bark 
strips,  mosses,  grass,  and  leaves.  Ei;i;s;  4  or  5.  light 
greenish-blue,  spotted  witli  li.gbt  lirown.  chiefly  around 
large  end. 

Distribution. —  Breeding  in  Pacific  coast  district  of 
United  States.  British  Columbia,  and  southern  Alaska, 
from  southern  California,  probably  also  northern  Lower 
California,  to  Juneau,  Alaska;  during  mi.gration.  south- 
ward, western  Mexico.  Guatemala.  Costa  Rica,  to 
eastern   Ecuador  and   British  Guiana. 


"  If  we  take  the  quality  of  melody  as  a  test." 
says  John  Btirroughs.  "  the  Wood  Thrush,  the 
Hermit  Thrush  and  the  Veery  Thrush  stand  at 
the  head  of  oitr  list  of  songsters."  Yet  it  is  often 
difficult  til  sav  whether  the  song  of  one  bird  sur- 
passes that  of  another,  because  bird  songs  are 
largely  matters  of  association  anrl  suggestion. 
The  song  of  the  Russet-back  is  best  late  in  the 
day  after  all  other  birds  have  ceased  singing. 
It  comes  just  before  dttsk  fnim  the  shaded 
canons  or  from  the  firs  on  m\-  hillside  jtist  .above 
the  river.  It  is  a  vesper  hymn  I  love  better  than 
all  others. 

Every  year  T  find  two  or  three  p;iirs  of 
Russet-backed    Thrushes    nesting    on    our    ten 


acres.  One  can  alw;iys  tell  the  nest  of  this 
bird  by  its  position  and  by  the  material  used. 
As  a  rule,  it  is  in  among  the  dark  foliage  or  a 
dark  clump  of  bushes  not  far  from  the  ground. 
The  nest  is  made  almost  entirelv  of  moss  and 
leaves.  After  the  foundation  of  the  home  is 
built,  the  Thrush  seeks  some  leaves  from  the 
damp  ground.  These  she  flattens  otit  and  molds 
into  the  bottom  of  the  home  with  her  breast. 
She  collects  moss  for  the  walls  and  when  the 
home  is  completed,  it  often  looks  like  a  ball  of 
moss  fastened  in  the  briers  or  braitches. 

The  Thrush  is  so  different  from  the  Robin. 
When  I  go  out  to  the  Robin's  nest  in  the  orchard, 
the  owners  are  so  angry  they  dash  around  yell- 


23^ 


BIRDS    OF   AMERICA 


ing,  "  Help !  Murder !  Get  out  ot  here  or  we'll 
knock  your  head  off !"  Whenever  I  visited  the 
Thrush's  home,  the  mother  stayed  on  the  nest 
until  I  almost  touched  her,  then  she  slipped 
through  the  branche.-  with  a  low  whistle  for  her 
mate.  He  was  near  at  hand.  They  were 
anxious,  but  they  did  not  relieve  their  feehngs 
with  a  great  noise  and  fuss,  as  the  Robins  did. 
The  Robins  are  noisy ;  the  Thrushes  shy  and 
quiet. 

As  I  watched  each  time  the  Thrush  mother 
came  to  feed  her  young,  she  lingered  at  the  nest 
edge.  I  often  saw  her  sit  for  several  moments 
at  a  time  looking  at  her  babies  and  caressing 
them  with  a  real  mother's  love. 

\\'lLLI.\.\r    L.    FiXLEY. 

While  this  Thrush  is  very  fond  of  fruit,  its 
partiality  for  banks  of  streams  keeps  it  from  fre- 
quenting orchards  when  they  are  far  from  water. 
It  is  most  troublesome  during  the  cherry  season, 
at  the  time  when  the  young  are  in  the  nest.  It 
might  be  inferred  from  this  that  the  nestlings 
are  fed  on  fruit,  but  such  is  not  the  case  to  any 
noticeable  extent.  The  parent  birds  eat  the  fruit 
themselves,  while  the  young,  as  is  usual  with 
nestlings,  are  fed  mostly  upon  insects.  The  old 
birds  eat  some  fruit  throughout  the  season,  but 
do  not  seem  to  attract  much  attention  bv  their 


depredations  on  prunes  and  the  later  fruits.  As 
the  Thrush  is  one  of  the  "  soft-billed  "  birds,  its 
attacks  on  fruits  are  limited  to  the  thin-skinned 
varieties.  It  is  as  often  seen  on  the  ground  peck- 
ing at  fallen  fruit  as  attacking  the  cherries  on 
the  trees.  It  probably  confines  its  depredations 
upon  the  later  fruits  to  such  as  have  already  been 
broken  into  by  stout-billed  birds. 

This  Thrush  is  an  efificient  destroyer  of  in- 
sects, and  during  its  sojourn  in  the  fruit  region 
a  little  more  than  half  of  its  food  consists  of 
harmful  insects.  In  the  investigation  of  this 
bird's  diet  157  stomachs  were  examined  and  52 
per  cent,  of  animal  matter  to  48  per  cent,  of 
vegetable  was  found.  The  animal  portion  was  in- 
sects, spiders,  earthworms,  sowbugs,  beetles, 
caterpillars,  ants,  wasps,  and  grasshoppers.  The 
vegetable  portion  in  addition  to  the  skins  and 
pulp  of  cherries  contained  seeds  of  blackberries, 
raspberries,  elderberry,  pepper  tree,  and  weeds. 

In  its  insect  diet  the  Russet-backed  Thrush  is 
almost  wholly  beneficial,  as  it  eats  but  few  pre- 
dacious beetles  or  other  useful  insects.  As  young 
Thrushes  are  fed  almost  exclusively  upon  in- 
sects and  as  they  eat  almost  continuously  from 
morning  till  night,  they  must  destroy  an  enor- 
mous number  of  these  harmful  creatures.  The 
Russet-backed  Thrush  must  be  considered  as  one 
of  the  positively  beneficial  birds. 


OLIVE-BACKED  THRUSH 

Hylocichla  ustulata  swainsoni  (Tscliiidi) 


.\.  O.  U.   Xumber  758a 

Other  Names. —  Alma's  Thrush  ;  Swainson's  Thrush  ; 
Swamp   Robin. 

General  Description. —  Length.  7'4  inches.  Upper 
parts,  olive-brown ;  under  parts,  white  and  buff  with 
spots  of  olive-brown.  Bill,  about  lA  length  of  head, 
slender,  gradually  and  increasingly  curved  downward 
toward  the  tip ;  wings,  rather  long  and  pointed ;  tail, 
not  more  than  ■)4  length  of  wing,  slightly  notched,  the 
feathers  slightly  sharpened  at  the  extreme  tip;  legs, 
long  and  slender. 

Color. —  Above,  uniform  grayish  oUvc-hrown;  con- 
spicuous eye-ring  and  lores  pale  buff;  sides  of  head, 
olive-brown,  with  narrow  streaks  of  pale  buff;  cheeks, 
buffy  streaked  with  olive-brownish;  chin,  throat,  and 
chest,  buff ;  the  chin  and  throat  sometimes  buffy-white ; 
the  sides  of  lower  throat  and  whole  chest  with  wedge- 
shaped  marks  dark  olive-brown  ;  these  marks  narrower 
and  darker  in  front,  broader  and  lighter  behind,  those 
on  central  part  of  chest  sometimes  sooty-blackish  and 
usually  on  a  cream-buff  ground  color ;  a  streak  below 
cheek  of  olive-brown  along  each  side  of  throat;  breast, 
abdomen,  and  under  tail-coverts  white ;  the  upper  por- 
tion of  the  first  transversely  spotted  with  olive-brown  ; 
sides  and   flank,   grayish-olive ;   bill,   dusky  brown ;   the 


Sl-c   Color    Pl.ltc    105 

basal  half  below  pale  dull  flesh  color;  iris,  deep  brown. 

Nest  and  Eggs.— Nest:  In  a  bush  or  small  tree, 
usually  from  five  to  eight  feet  from  ground,  in  secluded 
situations;  composed  of  grasses,  leaves  and  shreds  of 
bark;  in  the  more  northern  parts  of  the  bird's  range, 
moss  enters  frequently  into  the  nest  construction. 
Eggs:  3  or  4,  with  a  ground  color  of  greenish-blue, 
speckled  with  varying  shades  of  reddish-brown,  rufous, 
or  light  umber-brown. 

Distribution.— North  America  in  general  except 
Pacific  coast  district  south  of  Cross  Sound  and  Lynn 
Canal;  breeding  from  Massachusetts  (Berkshire  County. 
2000  to  3500  feet),  mountains  of  eastern  New  York 
(Catskills),  Pennsylvania,  and  West  Virginia  (spruce 
belt),  northern  Michigan,  Colorado  (Rocky  Mountains). 
Utah  (Uinta  and  Wasatch  mountains),  Nevada 
(East  Humboldt  Mountains),  and  California  (Sierra 
Nevada)  northward  to  Alaska  (Kenai  Peninsula; 
Iliamna  District;  Yukon  valley;  Kowak  valley,  etc.), 
Yukon  Territory  (Dawson,  Lake  Marsh;  Lake  Lebarge ; 
Caribou  Crossing),  ]\Iackenzie  and  shores  of  Hudson 
Bay ;  in  migration  southward  over  whole  of  Mexico 
and  Central  America  to  Peru,  Brazil,  and  Argentina; 
occasional  in  Bermudas  and  Cuba. 


Courtesy  of  the  New  York  State  M 


Plate    105 


GRAY-CHEEKED    THRUSH 

!hii.u„ld„  ,il,r:„,    ,il, ,-,„,'  iH:iinI 

OLIVE-BACKED    THRUSH 
lllllacirhla  uMn'ata  siminsuia  (TM-hudi) 


THRUSHES 


(33 


This  'Jliru>h  di-scrNL-s  to  l)c  much  Ijclter 
known.  To  be  sure  he  breeds  chiefly  in  the 
Canaihan  forests  and  when  seen  in  the  central 
and  eastern  States  (about  the  middle  of  May) 
is  likelv  to  be  on  his  way  to  the  northern  wilder- 
ness ;  but  his  breeding  range  extends  as  far 
southward  as  the  Catskills,  in  New  York,  and 
he  is  not  an  uncommon  s|)ring  and  summer  resi- 
dent on  Greylock  Mountain  in  northwestern 
ilassachusetts,  in  the  White  ^Mountains,  and  in 
the  lower  peninsula  of  Michigan.  In  these 
regions  he  may  be  seen  and  heard  fre(|uently 
—  bv  those  who  know  what  to  look  and  to  listen 
for.' 

Octilar  identification  of  the  bird  may  be  a 
puzzling  operation  for  the  unpracticed  or  careless 
observer,  since  there  really  is  considerable  re- 
semblance between  the  Olive-backed,  the  Gray- 
cheeked,  the  \'eery.  the  Wood,  and  the  Hermit 
Thrushes;  yet  the  j)lumage  of  each  bird  shows 
one  or  more  individual  peculiarities  by  which 
each  may  be  certainly  and  quickly  identified.  Be- 
sides, each  species  has  a  distinctive  song,  or  pecu- 
liar call  notes  which  the  careful  listener  soon 
detects. 

.Stewart  Edward  White,  who.  besides  being  a 
mighty  hunter  of  both  the  timid  and  the  danger- 
ous game  animals  of  .\merica  and  Africa,  is  an 
accurate  and  sympathetic  observer  of  bird-life, 
has  recorded  a  careful  analysis  of  this  Thrush's 
song,  as  he  heard  it  on  Mackinac  Island  :  together 
with  some  ingenious  and  amusing  statistics  con- 
cerning the  industry  and  persistence  of  the 
singer.  Analyzing  the  song  ]Mr.  White  says  that 
it  "  begins  low  and  ascends  bv  two  regular  step-; 
of  two  notes  each,  and  ends  with  several  sharj) 
notes.  The  first  note  of  each  step  is  higher  than 
the  second,  and  the  second  of  the  next  is  about 
the  same  as  the  fir.t  note  of  the  first  step."  To 
Mr.  White  the  song  said  gurgle,  gurgle  ting,  chee 
chec  dice.  Then  come  his  statistics,  wdiich  are 
astonishing  as  well  as  amusing. 

Holding  his  watch  on  one  Thrush,  he  noted 
that  the  bird  sang,  with  extreme  regularity,  on 
an  average  nine  and  a  half  times  a  minute.  The 
recital  began  commonly  at  about  3:15  a.  >r.  and 
the  song  was  repeated  at  the  usual  intervals  until 
about  9  .\.  M.  wdien  an  intermission  began  which 
lasted  until  about  noon.  Then  the  recital  was 
resumed  and  the  song  delivered  as  before,  but  at 


longer  intervals  than  during  the  morning  ])er- 
formancc.  At  about  4:,^o  the  singer  gut  into  his 
])ace  again,  and  ke])t  it  up  steadily  until  about 
7:.^;).  Therefore.  Mr.  \\hite  estimates,  if  this 
Thrush  sang  but  eight  times  a  minute  fur  eight 
hour.,  and  forty-five  minutes,  plus  occasional 
songs  for  about  twenty  minutes,  he  must  have 
sung  4360  songs  a  day,  or  in,  s.ay  six  weel<s,  his 
iioi"nial  singing  ]ieriod,  no  less  than  168,000 
s.mgs ! 

The  food  of  the  Olive-back  is  similar  to  that 
of  other  small  Thrushes,  and,  the  larger  part  of 


OLIVE-BACKED  THRUSH  ('  nat.  size 
According  to  one  count  he  sang  4360  songs  a  day 

the  animal  food  at  least,  C(jnies  fri)m  the  ground, 
where  the  birds  search  busily  for  it,  turning  over 
the  leaves,  probing  the  moss  and  decayed  vegeta- 
tion and  picking  up  worms,  snails,  and  insects  of 
various  kinds,  jiarticularlv  beetles  and  ants.  Dr. 
.'Sylvester  D.  Judd  in  his  rejiort  to  the  Depart- 
ment of  Agriculture,  Birds  of  a  Maryland 
Farm,  said  that  he  had  examined  the  stomachs  of 
two  Olive-backed  Thrushes  collected  in  May  and 
found  that  they  had  eaten  ants,  wasps,  ground- 
beetles,  darkling-beetles,  and  ground-spiders. 
This  bird  is  fond  of  wild  fruits  of  all  kinds  and 
eats  large  quantities.  Being  an  inhabitant  of 
woodlands  rather  than  orchards  or  gardens,  it 
does  no  damage  to  the  horticulturist,  but  on  the 
other  hand  renders  him  little  service. 


234 


BIRDvS    OF    AMERICA 


HERMIT  THRUSH 
Hylocichla  guttata  pallasi  (  Culmiiis) 

A.    1),     f.    Number    :^qh       >il-    folur    I'latc    105 


Other  Names.— American  Xightingalc;  Swamp 
Angel;  Swamp  Robin;  Rufous-tailed  Thrush;  Solitary 
Thrush. 

General  Description. —  Length,  7  inches.  Upper 
parts,  russet-brown  ;  under  parts,  white  with  spots  of 
dark.  Bill,  about  ]/,  length  of  head,  slender,  gradually 
and  increasingly  curved  downward  toward  the  tip ; 
wings,  rather  long  and  pointed ;  tail,  not  more  than  3/i 
length  of  wing,  even,  the  feathers  slightly  sharpened  at 
the  extreme  tip  ;  legs,  long  and  slender. 

Color. —  Above,  plain  russet-brown,  the  uf^pcr  tail- 
covcrts  and  tail  reddish-brown  ;  a  conspicuous  eye-ring 
of  dull  white;  lores,  dull  whitish  mixed  with  dusky 
grayish  ;  sides  of  head,  grayish-brown  with  very  nar- 
row shaft-streaks  of  dull  whitish;  cheeks  and  under 
parts  dull  white,  the  chest  and  hinder  part  of  cheeks 
tinged  with  pale  cream-bufif;  a  dusky  or  sooty  streak 
below  cheeks  along  each  side  of  throat;  sides  of  lower 
throat  with  narrow  wedge-shaped  streaks  of  dusky ; 
chest  with  large  triangular  spots  of  dusky  grayish- 
brown  or  sooty ;  these  more  wedge-shaped,  on  upper 
chest,    broader    and    more    rounded    on    lower    chest ; 


upper  breast,  especially  on  lateral  portions,  spotted  with 
grayish-brown  or  brownish-gray  ;  sides  and  flanks,  light 
brownish-gray ;  bill,  dusky  brown  or  blackish,  the 
basal  half  below  pale  grayish  flesh  color;  iris,  dark 
brown. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest  :  Placed  on  or  close  to  the 
ground;  rather  bulky  and  made  of  grass,  a  few  small 
rootlets,  leaves,  sometimes  bits  of  dried  moss,  and 
rather  carefully  lined  with  finer  pieces  of  the  same 
material.     Eccs:    3  or  4,  plain  greenish-blue. 

Distribution. —  Eastern  North  America ;  breeding 
from  Massachusetts  (Marthas  Vineyard;  Taconic 
Mountains,  Berkshire  County,  1000  to  2900  feet), 
Connecticut  (Bear  Mountains,  Norfolk)  ;  New  York 
( Catskills,  2300  to  2600  feet ;  Peterboro ;  Lake  Ron- 
konkoma.  Long  Island?),  mountains  of  Pennsylvania, 
Ontario,  northern  Michigan,  etc.,  northward  to  Labra- 
dor, and  through  Manitoba  and  Athabasca,  to  Mac- 
kenzie; during  migration  southward  to  Gulf  States 
(Florida  to  Texas)  wintering  northward  (regularly) 
to  about  39°,  occasionally  to  lower  Hudson  valley, 
New  York. 


If,  while  you  are  walking  throtigh  deep  and 
slightly  swampy  woods,  a  bird  somewhat  smaller 
than  a  Robin,  with  an  olive-brownish  back  and 


Courtcs' 
HERMIT  THRUSH 


a  dully  speckled  breast  starts  suddenly  from  the 
ground,  flies  quickly  to  a  low  branch,  looks 
about,  nervously  tilting  its  short,  rcddish-bro-n'ii 


tail  and  uttering  a  soft  ivhczc  or  chuck  mean- 
while, and  then  vanishes  like  a  wraith,  mark 
him  well,  for  you  have  seen  a  Hermit  Thrush, 
^inger  of  the  purest  natural  melody  to  be  heard 
in  this  or,  perhaps,  any  land.  The  "American 
Nightingale,"  he  is  sometimes  called ;  btit  there 
are  candid  and  competent  critics  who  contend 
that  in  purity  and  sweetness  of  tone,  as  well  as  in 
technique,  the  Hermit's  phrase  is  really  finer 
than  that  of  the  celebrated  English  bird. 

It  is  often  remarked  that  the  gaudy  bird  is 
rarely  a  good  singer,  and  the  color  scheme  of  the 
Hermit's  plumage  is  subdued  and  inconspictiotis 
to  a  degree.  Furthermore,  the  bird's  manners 
are  modest  and  retiring  to  the  point  of  actual 
timidity.  Always  the  Hermit  seems  to  be  trying 
to  elude  notice,  and  hence  his  appropriate  name. 

Of  the  Hermit's  song,  at  its  best,  it  is  difficult 
to  speak  with  moderation,  and  it  is  quite  impos- 
sible to  describe  it  adequately  in  words.  The 
quality  of  the  tcftie  is  not  reproduced  faithfully 
by  any  musical  instrument.  There  is  in  it  per- 
haps more  of  the  flute  than  of  any  other  instru- 
ment, though  the  tone  is  much  mellower,  more 
velvety,  and  there  is  a  distinct  stiggestion  of 
the  reed  quality  especially  in  the  lower  registers. 

Elementally  the  song  is  very  simple.  Often  it 
is  reminiscent  of  the  characteristic  phrase  of 
the  \\'ood  Thrush.     It  differs,  however,  from  all 


THRUSHES 


?35 


the  Thrush  S(in!j;s  in  that  it  is  usuahy  hegun  w  ith 
a  long,  hquiii,  nu-llow  note.  This  introfhictory 
tone  glides  into  the  first  phrase,  composed  of 
several  perfectly  slurred  tones  in  an  ascending 
and  descending  scale.  Within  a  few  seconds  the 
phrase  is  repeated  at  a  pitch  about  a  minor  third 
higher ;  then  it  is  delivered  again  and  again  in 
a  steadily  ascending  scale,  until  fairly  dizzying 
vocal  heights  are  attained.  Here  the  singer 
pauses  for  a  few  minutes,  only  to  go  back  to  the 
lower  pitch  and  proceed  as  before. 

Following  are  records  of  the  songs  (if  two 
Hermits  as  reduced  to  musical  notation  by  F. 
Schuvler  Mathews : 


Rendered  on  a  piano  these  phrases  convey 
only  a  very  faint  suggestion  of  the  matchless 
beauty  of  this  song.  A  very  fine  flute  or  a  pic- 
colo, if  perfectly  handled,  or  a  violin  with  skill- 
ful use  of  harmonics,  would  more  nearly  suggest 
the  singer's  tone,  which,  after  all,  as  has  been 
said,  really  cannot  be  accurately  rejiroduced  bv 
any  musical  instrument. 

To  Air.  Burroughs  it  suggests  "  a  serene 
religious  beatitude  as  no  other  sound  in  nature 


dues."  and  in  his  book.  I J 'a  he  Rolnii.  he  records 
this  fine  appreciation: 

".\  few  nights  ago  I  ascended  a  mountain  to 
see  the  world  by  moonlight ;  and  when  near  the 
summit  the  Hermit  commenced  his  evening  hvmn 
a  few  rods  away  from  nie.  Listening  to  this 
strain  on  the  lone  mmmtain.  with  the  full  mnun 
just  rounded  from  the  horizon,  the  pomp  of  your 
cities  and  the  pride  of  your  civilization  seemed 
trivial  and  cheaji."  No  wonder  the  bird  is  called 
the  "  Swamp  Angel  "  ! 

Another  of  this  great  artist's  temperamental 
peculiarities  is  that  he  rarely  sings  responsively 
with  others  of  his  kind,  which  the  Wood  Thrush 
often  seems  tri  be  deliberately  trying  to  do.  And 
again,  unlike  the  Wood  Thrush,  and  more  par- 
ticularly such  birds  as  the  Robin,  the  Catbird, 
and  the  I'rown  Thrasher,  who  seem  to  enjoy 
singing  to  a  human  audience,  the  Hermit  is  likely 
to  become  altogether  silent  if  he  sees  or  suspects 
the  presence  of  a  listener.  Undoubtedly  it  is  for 
these  reasons,  and  because  of  the  bird's  solitary 
habits,  that  this  really  wonderful  song  is  com- 
paratively little  known.  Even  the  great  ornithol- 
ogists, \\'iIson  and  Audubon,  apparently  never 
clearly  identified  it.  Both  give  the  Wood  Thrush 
full  credit  for  his  musical  genius,  but  Audubon 
i-\i(lentlv  had  never  heard  the  song  of  the 
Hermit!  riEORCE  Gl.xdden. 

In  spring  and  summer  the  Hermit  Thrush 
feeds  mainly  on  insects,  but  in  fall  and  winter  it 
partakes  largely  of  various  wild  fruits  and 
berries.  Examination  of  sixty-eight  stomachs 
showed  animal  matter  to  the  extent  of  56  per 
cent,  and  \'egetable  44  per  cent.  The  proportion 
varies  little  in  the  different  months.  On  the 
whole,  the  food  of  the  Hermit  Thrush  is  re- 
markably free  from  useful  products,  destruction 
of  which  is  a  loss  to  mankind.  The  worst  that 
can  be  said  of  the  bird  is  that  it  eats  and  scatters 
the  seed  of  poison  oak,  but  it  does  not  do  this  to 
a  marked  degree. 

In  the  western  part  of  North  America  there 
arc  five  variants  of  the  Hermit  Thrush.  The 
,\laska  Hermit,  or  Kodiak  Dwarf.  Thrush  (f/v- 
lociclila  guttata  guttata  )  is  ranked  as  the  type 
species;  it  breeds  in  the  coast  district  of  Alaska 
and  winters  south  to  Lower  California,  Mexico, 
and  Texas.  In  size  it  is  a  little  smaller  than  the 
Eastern  Hermit  and  the  brown  of  the  upper  parts 
is  grayish  instead  of  russet. 

The  Dwarf  Hermit  Thrush  (Hylociclila  gut- 
tata nanus)  breeds  in  the  coast  district  of  .\laska 
and    British   Columbia   and   in   the   winter  goes 


236 


BIRDS    OF    AiMERICA 


south  to  California.  Arizona,  and  New  Mexico. 
It  is  darker  than  the  Alaska  Hermit,  the  back 
being  a  sepia-brown. 

The  Monterey  Hermit  Thrush  ( Hylocichla 
guttata  slcvini)  is  smaller,  paler,  and  grayer  than 
the  Alaskan.  California  is  its  home  and  the 
winter  is  spent  in  Mexico  and  Lower  California. 

The  Sierra  Hermit  Thrush  {Hylocichla  gut- 
tata scquoiensis)  is  slightly  darker  and  decidedly 
larger  than  the  Monterey  and  larger  but  paler 
and  grayer  than  the  Alaskan.     It   is   found  in 


the  high  mountains  of  southern  California  north 
to  southern  British  Columbia.  In  the  winter  it 
goes  to  western  Texas  and  over  the  border  into 
Mexico  and  Lower  California. 

Similar  in  coloration  to  the  Sierra  Hermit 
but  decidedly  larger  is  Audubon's,  or  the  Rocky 
Mountain,  Hermit  Thrush  (Hylocichla  guttata 
auduboni).  It  breeds  from  British  Columbia 
and  Montana  south  to  Nevada,  Arizona,  and 
New  Mexico  and  winters  in  western  and  central 
Texas  and  south  over  Mexico  to  Guatemala. 


ROBIN 

Planesticus  migratorius  migratorius   (  Linucvus) 


A     n.    V.    Xiimbcr    ;(.i 

Other  Names. —  Fieldfare;  Common  Roliin  ;  Roliin 
Redbreast:  Redbreast;  Migratory  Thrush;  Canada 
Robin;   Northern   Robin;   American   Robin. 

General  Description. —  Length,  lo  inches.  Head, 
black ;  upper  parts,  gray ;  under  parts,  reddish  and 
white.  Bill,  decidedly  shorter  than  head,  compressed, 
terminal  :'j  gradually  and  increasingly  curved  down- 
ward ;  wings,  rather  long  and  pointed ;  tail,  shorter 
than  wing,  even  or  slightly  rounded,  the  feathers  broad. 

Color. — Adult  Male  in  Spring  and  Summer:  Head 
black:  chin  white;  throat  streaked  with  white  and 
black;  back,  lesser  wing-coverts,  rump,  and  upper  tail- 
coverts  plain,  deep  mouse-gray  or  brownish  slate-gray ; 
larger  wing-coverts  and  tertials  darker,  becoming  pale 
mouse-gray  on  edges  ;  primary  coverts  dark  brownish 
slate,  or  dusky,  edged  with  pale  gray ;  tail  dull  slate- 
black  or  sooty  black,  with  narrow  grayish  edgings ; 
chest,  breast,  upper  abdomen,  sides,  flanks,  and  under 
wing-coverts  plain,  deep  cinnamon-rufous ;  lower  abdo- 
men, anal  region,  and  under  tail-coverts,  white,  the 
latter  with  concealed  portion  mainly  gray;  zvJiitc  spots 
at  the  extremities  of  the  outer  tail-feathers,  showing 
plainly  when  the  bird  is  in  flinht :  bill,  yellow; 
iris,  deep  brown ;  legs  and  feet,  dark  horn  color  or 
blackish  brown.  Adult  Male  in  Autumn  and  Winter  : 
Similar  to  the  spring  and  summer  plumage,  but  gray 
of  upper  parts  tinged  with  olive;  cinnamon-rufous 
feathers  of  under  parts  ed.ged  with  white  and  other 
slight  variations  of  the  normal  plumage.  Adult 
Female:  Similar  to  the  male,  but  usually  much  duller 
in  color,  with  gray  of  upper  parts  lighter  and  browner 
and   encroaching   more   on   head,   the  blackisli    feathers 


of  under  parts  paler.  Young:  Head  as  in  adults,  but 
tlie  black  duller ;  back  and  shoulders,  grayish-brown  or 
olive ;  rump  and  upper  tail-coverts,  brownish-gray ; 
wings  and  tail  as  in  adults,  but  wing-coverts  with 
terminal  wedge-shaped  spots  or  streaks  of  pale  rusty, 
buff,  or  whitish  ;  chin  and  throat,  white  or  pale  buffy. 
margined  laterally  with  a  stripe  of  blackish  or  a  line 
of  blackish  streaks;  under  parts  cinnamon-rufous,  con- 
spicuously spotted  in  very  young  birds  with  black, 
the  lower  abdomen  white  or  pale  buffy. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Mest:  A  thick  but  symmetrical 
bowl,  made  of  mud  reinforced  with  leaves  and  twigs, 
in  which  are  frequently  woven  leaves,  twine,  paper  and 
rags.  It  is  lined  with  soft  grass,  and  may  be  placed 
(frequently  quite  near  the  ground)  in  any  kind  of  tree. 
or  upon  any  suitable  projection  from  a  house,  or  within 
or  without  barns,  sheds,  and  other  outbuildings.  Eggs  : 
4  or  5  (occasionally  6),  greenish-blue,  unmarked; 
usually  two  broods  a  season  and  sometimes  three. 

Distribution. —  Eastern  and  northern  North  Am- 
erica;  breeding  from  the  southern  Alleghenies  (in 
western  North  Carolina,  etc.),  Pennsylvania,  New  Jer- 
sey, the  New  England  States,  Ohio,  central  and  north- 
ern Indiana  and  Illinois,  Iowa,  northward  to  the  limit 
of  tree  growth  in  Ungava  (Fort  Chimo),  and  north- 
westward to  the  valley  of  Kowak  River  in  northwestern 
Alaska;  westward  nearly  to  the  Rocky  Mountains  (to 
the  Pacific  at  Cook  Inlet.  Alaska)  ;  in  winter  south- 
ward to  southern  Florida  and  along  the  Gulf  coast 
to  Texas ;  accidental  or  occasional  in  the  Bermudas 
and  Cuba;  accidental  in  Europe  (as  escapes  from 
captivity  ?). 


The  Robin's  remarkably  wide  distribution,  its 
conspicuous  plumage  ( notably  the  fine  red  breast 
and  black  head  of  the  male),  its  reputation  as 
a  harbinger  of  spring,  and  above  all  its  evident 


fondness  for  human  society,  have  combined  to 
make  it  probably  the  best  known  bird  in  .America. 
Its  chief  rival  seems  to  be  the  Bluebird,  whose 
ranee  is  virtuallv  as  <rreat  as  that  of  the  Robin, 


THRUSHES 


-o/ 


and  whose  plumage  is  also  very  beautiful,  while 
its  peculiarly  sweet  and  joyous  warble  is  a  surer 
sign  of  approaching  spring  than  is  the  ap])ear- 
ance  of  its  larger  relative.  For.  although  prac- 
tically all  of  the  Robins  who  breed  in  the  tem- 
perate zone  migrate  to  warmer  latitudes  in  the 
autumn,  their  places  arc  taken  bv  liirds  who  have 
bred  further  north,  so  that  the  species  is  usually 
well  represented  in  its  northern  range  even  in 
the  dead  of  winter  and  where  the  snow  lies  deep. 
At  these  times,  and  especially  when  the  weather 


is  very  severe,  the  Robins  are  most  likel\-  to  be 
fiiund  in  wooded  swamps,  where  there  is  plentv 
.if  cover. 

The  Piluel)ird  also  disjilays  charming  confi- 
dence in  the  friendliness  of  luan,  and  occasionally 
stays  in  the  north  during  the  winter  months; 
but  the  Robin  is,  after  all,  the  more  characteristic 
(if  the  two  birds,  and  the  more  in  evidence,  too. 
because  of  its  fondness  for  the  lawns,  and  the 
trustfidness  which  it  displays  by  building  its 
nest  and  rearing  its  lusty  family  (  who  also  take 


Drawing  hy  R.  T.  Brasher 


ROBIN  l;  nat.  size) 
Everybody  knows  the  Robin  and  ought  to  welcome  and  protect  him 


238 


BIRDS    OF    AMERICA 


to  the  lawns  as  soon  as  they  are  able  to  get  there) 
often  on  the  woodwork  or  in  the  vines  of  a  porch 
within  a  few  feet  of  a  window  or  door.  As  an 
instance  of  the  curious  and  stupid  things  a  bird 
may  do  in  the  way  of  nest-building,  Mr.  Bur- 
roughs tells  the  following  story: 

"  I  was  amused  at  the  case  of  a  Robin  that 
recently  came  to  mv  knowledge.  The  bird  built 
its  nest  in  the  south  end  of  a  rude  shed  that 
covered  a  table  at  a  railroad  terminus  upon 
which  a  locomotive  was  frequently  turned. 
When  her  end  of  the  shed  was  turned  to  the 
north  she  biu'lt  another  nest  in  the  temporary 
south  end,  and  as  the  reversal  of  the  shed  ends 
contintied   from  dav  to  dav,   she   soon   had  two 


Phutu  by  11.  T.  Mid.lkluu 

yOUNG  ROBIN 

nests  and  two  sets  of  eggs.  When  I  last  heard 
from  her,  she  was  constantly  sitting  on  that 
particular  nest  which  happened  to  be  for  the  time 
being  in  the  end  of  the  shed  facing  the  south. 
The  bewildered  bird  evidently  had  had  no  experi- 
ence with  the  tricks  of  turntables." 

The  Robin's  song  has,  perhaps,  been  a  little 
overpraised,  doubtless  because  of  its  signifi- 
cance in  the  spring.  It  is,  in  fact,  a  cheerful 
rather  than  a  inelodiijus  warble.  com]iosed  of 
ascending  and  descending  phrases,  the  final  one, 
it  must  be  admitted,  likely  to  end  in  imper- 
fect vocalization  which  suggests  a  lack  of  con- 
trol of  the  vocal  cords,  and  produces  an  efTect 
not  unlike  that  of  the  ludicrous  break  in  the 
tones  of  a  lad  whose  voice  is  changing.  The 
call  note  also  is  bright  and  incisive  rather  than 
musical. 

Another  characteristic  note  of  the  Robin  is 
sounded  when  danger  is  at  hand,  especially  in 
the  form  of  a  cat.  This  is  a  peculiar,  wailing 
cry,  in  a  sort  of  undertone,  and  exjjresses  both 
fear  and  sorrow.  Very  likelv  it  may  be  evoked 
by  other  enemies,  but  it  more  often  means  a  cat 


and  a  ver_v  young  Robin  nearby.  The  bird's 
foreboding  tinder  tliese  conditions  is  reallv 
pitiful;  for  usually  it  displays  great  courage 
when  its  young  are  threatened  in  the  nest,  and 
frequently  will  swoop  down  on  a  prowling  cat 
and  actually  strike  it  with  its  beak,  meanwhile 
shrieking  and  screaming  incessantly.  This  to-do 
often  attracts  other  birds,  who  make  common 
cause  with  the  Robin  against  their  common 
enemy,  with  the  result  that  puss  may  be  literally 
driven  away. 

Incredible  though  it  may  seem,  until  within 
a  few  years  ago,  the  Robin  was  classified,  in 
several  of  the  southern  States,  as  a  "  game  bird," 
and  as  such  was  killed  in  countless  thousands  for 
food  or  for  "  sport."  This  slaughter  of  a  beauti- 
ful and  highly  useful  song  bird  is  now  forbidden 
bv  the  Federal  Migratory  Bird  Law,  which 
ijccame  a  statute  on  March  4,  1913,  and  under 
which  all  migratory  game  and  insect-eating  birds 
are  made  wards  of  Uncle  Sam. 

Spencer  Trotter  says  that  "  Our  American 
Robin  was  known  to  the  early  southern  colonists 
as  the  '  fieldfare  '  and  is  so  termed  by  Catesby. 
The  bird  has  many  of  the  qualities  of  its  British 
congener." 

The  economic  status  of  the  Robin  probably 
has  received  more  attention  than  that  of  any 
other  bird.  There  is  no  denying  the  fact  that 
the  bird  eats  or  injures  a  great  amount  of  small 
fruit,  especially  cherries  and  berries  in  their 
season.  On  the  other  hand,  it  is  equally  certain 
that  the  Robin  destroys  enormous  quantities  of 
noxious  insects.  Nor  should  it  be  forgotten  that 
the  bird's  raids  upon  cultivated  fruits  and  berries 
are  due  largely  to  the  destrtiction  by  man  of  the 
wild  fruits  and  berries  (especially  wild  cherries) 
which  form  part  of  its  natural  and  preferred  diet. 

An  examination  of  350  stomachs  of  Robins 
shows  that  over  42  per  cent,  of  its  food  is  animal 
matter,  principally  insects,  while  the  remainder 
is  made  up  of  small  fruits  and  berries.  Over 
Kj  per  cent,  consists  of  beetles,  about  one-third 
of  which  are  useful  ground  beetles,  taken  mostly 
in  spring  and  fall,  when  other  insects  are  scarce. 
Grasshoppers  make  up  about  one-tenth  of  the 
whole  food,  but  late  in  August  comprise  over  30 
per  cent.  Caterpillars  form  about  6  per  cent., 
while  the  rest  of  the  animal  food  is  made  up  of 
various  insects,  with  a  few  spiders,  snails,  and 
angleworms.  All  the  grasshoppers,  caterpillars, 
and  bugs,  with  a  large  portion  of  the  beetles, 
are  injuriotis,  and  it  is  safe  to  say  tliat  noxious 
insects  comprise  more  than  one-third  of  the 
Robin's  food. 


THRUSHES 


239 


X'egetable  food  forms  nearly  58  per  cent,  of 
the  stomach  contents,  over  47  being  wild  fruits, 
and  onlv  a  little  more  than  4  per  cent,  being 
possibly  cultivated  varieties.  Cultivated  fruit, 
amounting  to  about  -'5  per  cent.,  was  found  m 
the  stomachs  in  June  and  July,  but  only  a  trifle 
in  August.  Wild  fruit,  on  the  contrary,  is  eaten 
in  everv  month,  and  constitutes  a  staple  food 
during  half  the  year.  The  depredations  of  the 
Robin  seem  to  be  confined  to  the  smaller  and 
earlier  fruits. 

In  view  of  the  fact  that  the  Robin  takes  ten 
times  as  much  wild  as  cultivated  fruit,  it  seems 
unwise  to  destroy  the  birds  to  save  sci  little.  Xnr 
is  this  necessary,  for  by  a  little  care  both  may 
be  preserved.  \\'here  much  fruit  is  grown  it  i-- 
no  great  loss  to  give  up  one  tree  to  the  birds; 
and  in  some  cases  the  crop  can  be  protected  l)y 
scarecrows.  \Miere  wild  fruit  is  not  abundant, 
a  few  fruit-bearing  shrubs  and  vines  judiciously 
])lanted  will  serve  for  ornament  and  |)rovide  food 
for  the  birds.  The  Russian  mulberry  is  a  vigor- 
ous grower  and  a  profuse  bearer,  rijiening  at 
the  same  time  as  the  cherry,  and,  so  far  as  obser- 
vation has  gone,  most  birds  seem  to  prefer  its 
fruit  to  anv  other.  It  is  believed  that  a  number  of 
these  trees  planted  around  the  garden  or  orchard 
would  fully  protect  the  more  valuable  fruits. 

Two  variant  forms  of  the  American  Robin 
occur  within  the  bounds  of  the  United  States. 
The  Southern,  or  Carolinian,  Robin  ( Plancsticiis 
vilgratorius  achnistcnis)  is  smaller  in  size  and  its 
color  is  paler  and  duller.  It  is  found  in  the  south- 
eastern States.     The  other  is  called  the   West- 


ern Robin  (Planesticus  iitigratorins  propinqiiiis). 
It  ayera,ges  slightly  larger  than  its  eastern  con- 
gener, and  the  gray  of  its  upjjer  parts  is  a  little 


ROBIN  ENTERING  NEST 

more  olive  and  the  red  of  the  under  parts  paler. 
Ic  is  found  from  Alaska  tn  Mexico  and  from  the 
Pacific  coast  to  the  Great  Plains. 


VARIED  THRUSH 
Ixoreus  nasvius  naevius   (iinu-lin) 


Other   Names. —  Oregon   Robin;  Alaska  Robiii. 

General  Description. —  Length,  10  inches.  Upper 
I)arts,  slate  color  ;  under  parts,  tawny  and  white,  crossed 
by  a  band  of  slate-black.  Bill,  much  shorter  than  head, 
slender,  and  nearly  straight ;  wings,  rather  long  and 
pointed ;  tail,  shorter  than  wing,  even. 

Color. —  Adult  M.\le:     Above,  plain  slate  color,  the 

feathers,  especially  those  of  crown  and  back,  sometimes 

(in    certain    lights)     slightly    darker    centrally;    wings 

(except  lesser  coverts)    dusky,  with   slate-gray  edgings, 

\oi,.   III.  — 17 


the  middle  coverts  with  a  large  terminal  spot  (  usually 
triangular  in  form)  of  tawny,  the  greater  coverts  also 
broadly  tipped  with  the  same  (mostly  on  outer  web), 
the  secondaries  edged  subterminally  with  a  paler  and 
duller  tint  of  the  same,  the  primaries  (except  two  or 
three  outermost)  cinnamon-bufF  on  basal  portion  of 
outer  web  and  edged  with  the  same  half  way  to  tip, 
the  outer  web  of  secondaries  also  buff  basally  (con- 
cealed by  greater  coverts),  the  inner  feathers  often 
tipped    with    pale    butTy ;    two    or    three    outermost    tail- 


240 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


feathers  with  a  whitish  spot  at  tip  of  inner  web  (largest 
on  the  outside  feathers)  ;  a  conspicuous  stripe  above 
ears  of  tawny,  extending  from  middle  of  upper  eyelid 
(sometimes  from  above  lores)  to  nape;  lores  below 
eyes  and  sides  of  head  uniform  slate-black;  cheeks, 
chin,  throat,  and  breast  uniform  taivny,  the  chest  crossed 
by  rarely  interrupted  band  of  slate-black,  the  feathers 
sometimes  margined  with  a  more  slaty  hue ;  sides  and 
flanks  similar  in  color  to  breast  but  paler,  the  feathers 
broadly  margined  with  olivaceous  slate-gray;  abdomen, 
white;  under  tail-coverts  brownish-slate-gray  basally, 
extensively  white  terminally,  the  white  usually  sutifuseJ 
with  tawny ;  under  wing-coverts  white  basally,  broadly 
slate-gray  terminally;  inner  webs  of  wing  feather.-, 
crossed  by  a  broad  basal  band  of  pale  buffy ;  bill, 
brownish-black;  iris,  brown.  Adult  Female;  Aluch 
duller  in  coloration  than  the  adult  male ;  upper  parts 
varying  from  olivaceous  slate-gray  to  brownish-olive 
(still  browner  on  crown)  ;  the  markings  on  wings  and 
tail  as  in  the  male;  tawny  color  of  under  parts  paler; 
the  band  across  chest  indistinct  and  never  (?)  uniform 
blackish   or   slate   color  —  usually   with    feathers   dusky 


centrally  (more  or  less  concealed),  margined  with  dull 
buffy-grayish ;  white  of  rear  under  parts  usually  (?) 
relatively  more  extended  than  in  male. 

Nest  and  Eggs. — Nest;  Placed  in  low  bushes 
always  on  or  near  the  banks  of  a  stream;  it  is  rather 
large  for  the  bird;  the  foundation  is  a  carefully  con- 
structed arrangement  of  interlaced  slender  twigs; 
upon  this  base  is  erected  the  main  structure  of  closely 
interwoven  fine  grasses,  moss  and  long  gray  lichens. 
Eggs  :  Usually  4,  pale  greenish-blue,  sparsely  spotted 
with   dark  umber-brown. 

Distribution. —  Western  North  America ;  breeding 
from  northern  California,  northward  to  the  limit  of 
spruce  forests  in  northern  Alaska ;  the  eastern  breeding 
limit  is  unascertained,  but  probably  includes  the  spruce 
forests  of  the  interior  mountain  districts,  at  least  in 
British  Columbia,  possibly  to  northern  Idaho  and  Mon- 
tana ;  wintering  from  Kodiak  Island  southward  to 
southern  California  (as  far  as  Colorado  River),  and 
occurring  during  migration  in  Montana  (Coeur  d'Alene 
Mountains)  and  straggling  eastward  to  Kansas,  New 
Jersey.  New  York,  and  Massachusetts. 


Drawing  by  R.  Bruce  Horsfall 

VARIED  THRUSH  (i  nat.  size) 
Act  like  Robins,  but  dressed  differently 


Frequently  we  have  inquiries  from  people  as 
to  a  strange  bird  that  comes  in  the  midst  of 
winter  down  into  onr  western  Oregon  valleys.  It 
looks  and  acts  like  an  ordinary  Robin,  but  its 
dress  is  so  changed  from  this  well-known  bird. 

The  Varied  Thrush,  Alaska  Robin,  or  Oregon 
Robin,  as  it  is  sometimes  called,  lives  back  in  the 
mountains  in  the  wilder  sections  where  the  tim- 
ber is  most  dense.  The  bird  has  a  weird  and 
mysterious  note,  a  sort  of  a  monotone  song  that 
can  be  imitated  by  tising  a  combination  whistle 


and  voice  note.  I  have  never  heard  any  different 
song  or  note  from  this  bird  except  one  summer 
when  we  were  traveling  through  the  coast  moun- 
tains of  Oregon  when  a  young  bird  flew  along 
the  bank  by  a  wood  road.  We  gave  chase  and 
caught  it.  But  the  moment  I  closed  my  hand 
on  the  bird,  it  cried  out  in  alarm  and  down 
swooped  a  mother  Varied  Thrush.  She  was 
frantic.  She  let  out  a  variety  of  exclama- 
tory notes  and  phrases  such  as  T  had  never  heard 
in  the  vocabularv  of  any  bird.  It  was  a  surprise 


Courtesy  oi   the  New  York  State  Mus. 


Plate  106 


■^Oufli^dsfU  ^artrfej. 


ROBIN      Planr.ilicus  migraturnis  mignilnruix  (Linnaeus) 

BLUEBIRD     Siiilia  sialis  smhs  (Linnaeus) 

All  i  oat.  size 


THRUSHES 


241 


to  me  to  know  that  this  solitary,  single-note 
singer  was  like  a  Shakespeare  in  the  bird  world, 
for  she  used  such  a  large  vocabulary. 

When  John  Burroughs  was  a  member  of  the 
Harriman  Expedition  to  Alaska  in  iSiji),  he  met 
this  bird  for  the  first  time.  His  thoughts  are 
recorded  in  some  verses  which  were  written  at 
the  time  ; 

O  \"aiMC(i  Thrush!  O  Robin  stran.s,'e ! 

Behold  my  mute  surprise. 
Thy  form  and  flight  I  long  have  known, 
But  not  this  new  disguise. 

The  Varied  Thrush  is  driven  down  from  the 
high  moimtains  by  the  snows  of  winter.     \\  hen 


he  first  comes  into  the  valleys,  the  later  fruits  are 
still  hanging  on  vine  and  tree.  He  seems  to  be 
ravenously  hungry  for  the  sweet-tasting  fruit 
that  has  been  planted  by  man.  His  taste  some- 
times turns  to  grapes  and  apples  to  such  an 
extent  that  some  farmers  think  him  a  nuisance. 
H  one  wishes  to  have  Varied  Thrushes  about 
his  home  during  the  winter,  all  he  has  to  do  is 
to  leave  some  apples  hanging  on  one  of  the  old 
trees  of  the  orchard.  After  the  leaves  have 
fallen,  the  Thrushes  will  stay  as  long  as  the 
a[)ples  last.  They  seem  to  live  almost  entirely 
on  this  fruit,  especially  when  the  snow  is  on  the 
.i^r'Hind.  William  L.  Finlev. 


BLUEBIRD 

Sialia  sialis  sialis   (  Liinuriis) 

A.    O.   U.    Number  700      See  Color   Plate   106 


Other  Names.— Eastern  Bluebird;  Wilson's  Blue- 
bird; Blue  Robin;  Common  Bluebird;  Blue  Redbreast; 
American    Bluebird. 

General  Description. —  Length.  7  inches.  Upper 
parts,  bright  blue;  under  parts,  cinnamon-chestnut  and 
white.       Bill,     small     and     slender;     wings,     long     and 


pointed  ;    tail, 
legs,   short. 

Color. —  Adult  M.m.e: 
blue,  the  shafts  of    wing-  and  tail-feathers  black;  and 
tips    of    wing-feathers     (especially    primaries)     dusky; 
sides   of   head    including   cheeks    { sotnetimes    including 


shorter    than    wing,    distinctly    notched ; 
Upper  parts,  uniform  bright 


BLUEBIRD  (S  nat.size) 

rble,  beautiful  blue  coat,  warm  waistcoat,  and  gentle  manners  make  him  the  most 
welcome  herald  of  spring 


24'. 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


also  chill  and  sides  of  upper  throat),  hghter  and  grayer 
blue ;  throat,  chest,  breast,  sides,  and  flanks,  uniform 
dull  cinnamon-chestnut ;  abdomen,  anal  region,  and 
under  tail-coverts,  white,  the  last  with  longer  feathers 
tinged  with  pale  grayish-blue,  the  shorter  ones  with 
pale  cinnamon-rufous;  under  wing-coverts,  pale  gray- 
ish-blue; bill,  black;  iris,  dark  brown.  AnuLT  Fem.^le: 
Above,  bluish-gray  tinged  with  light  grayish-brown 
(especially  in  autumn  and  winter),  passing  into  bright 
blue  on  rump,  upper  tail-coverts,  and  tail  :  wings,  blue. 


the  inner  quills  and  innermost  greater  coverts  edged 
with  pale  brownish-gray  or  whitish,  the  outermost  pri- 
mary edged  with  white ;  front  and  lateral  under  parts, 
dull  rufous-cinnamon  (paler  in  summer,  deeper  in  fresh 
autumn  plumage),  the  chin  and  upper  throat  paler; 
abdomen,  anal   region,  and  under  tail-coverts,  white. 

Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest  :  The  natural  nesting- 
sites  are  in  deserted  Woodpecker  holes,  hollows  of 
decayed  trees,  or  crevices  of  rocks  ;  it  was  one  of  the 
first  birds  to  take  advantage  of  "  modern  conveniences  " 
and  quickly  appropriated  boxes  placed  around  the  farm 
houses  for  its  occupancy ;  hollows  in  old  rail-fences 
are  often  used  and  in  some  parts  of  New  England  a 
large  percentage  of  nests  are  so  located;  more  rarely 
the  pair  usurp  a  Swallow's  nest;  the  nest  is  composed 
of  grass,  weed  stalks,  a  few  bits  of  bark,  and  lined 
with  finer  grass-blades.  Eggs  :  4  to  6,  rarely  7  and 
usually  5,  plain   light  bluish-white  in   color. 

Distributicn. —  United  States  and  southern  Canada 
east  of  Rocky  Mountains ;  north  to  Nova  Scotia, 
southern  New  Brunswick,  southern  Maine,  Vermont, 
northern  New  York  ( Adirondacks),  northern  Ontario 
and  Manitoba,  occasionally  to  northern  New  Bruns- 
wick, northern  Maine  and  southern  Quebec ;  west  to 
eastern  base  of  Rocky  Mountains,  in  Montana,  Wyo- 
ming and  Colorado;  breeding  southward  to  southern 
Florida  and  along  the  Gulf  Coast  to  southern  and 
west-central  Te.xas ;  Bermudas  (resident);  accidental 
in  Cuba. 


Photo  by  S.  A.  Lottndw 

NEST  OF  BLUEBIRD 

Section    of   tree   cut   away   to  show  nest.     The  birds  entered 
through  hole  above 


I'his  beatitiful  and  singtilarly  lovable  bird 
divides  with  the  Robin  the  grateftil  mission  of 
bringing  to  its  northern  htiman  friends  the  wel- 
come news  that  spring  is  at  hand.  In  the  article 
on  the  Robin,  it  is  explained  that  many  individ- 
ttals  of  that  species  remain  during  the  winter 
months  in  northern  latitudes  of  the  United 
States.  Few  Bluebirds  do  this  ;  and  their  appear- 
ance in  the  spring  is,  therefore,  much  more  sig- 
nificant than  is  the  Robin's.  To  be  sin'e,  the 
Bluebird's  migratory  instinct  occasionally  gets 
the  better  of  his  meteorological  discretion,  so 
that  his  greeting  to  liis  northern  breeding 
grotinds  is  sometimes  a  howling  "  north-easter," 
bringing  snow  and  freezing  temperatures  which 
drive  him  back  to  the  southland,  or  not  infre- 
quently cost  him  his  Hfe. 

A  real  tragedy  of  this  kind  occurred  in  the 
spring  of  1895.  when  many  species  of  migratory 
birds,  but  especially  the  Bluebirds,  were  caught 
in  the  wave  of  severely  cold  weather  which  swept 
through  the  Middle  and  Gulf  States.  Thousands 
of  Bluebirds  perished  in  the  storms  and  bitter 
cold  which  lasted  for  a  week  or  more ;  their 
frozen  bodies  were  found  everywhere  —  in 
barns  and  other  outhouses  where  the  poor  things 
had  vainly  sought  shelter :  in  the  fields  and  woods 
and  even  along  the  roadsides.     In  the  localities 


THRUSHES 


243 


affected,  they  were  almost  exterminated.  To 
many  people  it  was  a  sad  spring  in  those  regions. 
Much  dubious  ornithology  has  been  produced 
by  poets  from  whose  minds  facts  are  crowded 
out  by  fancies,  hut  James  Russell  Lowell  rexealed 
a  trained  eye,  as  well  as  an  ajipreciation  of  the 
beautiful,  when  he  wrote  1  in  "  Under  the  ^^'il- 
lows  "  )  of 

The   Bluebird,   shifting   his   hght   load   of   souk. 

From   post    to   post   along   the   cheerless    fence, 

a  pretty  spring  habit  of  the  bird  which  has  de- 
lighted many  a  wayfarer. 

Like  the  Robin,  the  Bluebird  shows  a  decided 
fondness  for  human  society.  Orchards  are 
favorite  natural  resorts  of  the  birrl,  and  furnish 
plenty  of  home-sites  in  the  shape  of  hollow 
trunks  or  limbs  of  trees,  for  the  bird  alwavs  jire- 
fers  a  cavity  of  some  kind  wherein  to  ]il;ice  its 
nest.  The  wise  owner  of  such  trees  will  do  his 
utmost  to  encourage  this  tenancv.  Li(lee<l,  if  he 
will  scatter  through  his  orchard  a  goodly  supjilv 
of  Bluebird  homes,  in  the  form  of  short  sections 
of  hollow  limbs,  covered  at  the  top  and  bottom, 
and  with  an  auger-hole  doorway,  he  will  soon 
have  plenty  of  Bluebird  tenants,  who  will  pay 
their  rent  many  times  over  by  destroying  in- 
jurious insects  and  worms.  For,  with  the  possible 
exceptions  of  the  House  Wren  and  the  Purple 
ALartin,  the  Bluebird  is  as  willing  as  any  bird  to 
set  up  housekeeping  in  a  dwelling  for  him  made 
and  provided. 

The  sentimental  aspects  of  the  society  of  Blue- 
birds will  not  be  overlooked  by  people  who  ap- 
preciate manifestations  of  very  genuine  domestic 
peace  and  happiness.  None  of  our  common 
birds  are  so  demonstrative  in  their  expressions 


of  devotion  to  each  other,  and  in  their  atTec- 
tionate  solicitude  for  their  young.  The  note  of 
lament  which  is  so  plainly  exi)ressed  in  the  Blue- 
bird's abbreviated  warble  as  it  prefiares  to  follow 
the  retreating  summer,  brings  a  sympathetic 
echo  from  many  a  human  heart. 

Geokce  Gi-.\ddex. 

The  Bluebird  has  not  been  accused,  so  far  as 
known,  of  stealing  fruit  or  of  preying  upon  crops. 
An  examination  by  the  United  .'^tates  Biological 
.Survey  of  855  stomachs  showed  that  68  per  cent, 
of  the  food  consisted  of  insects  and  their  allies, 
while  the  other  3J  per  cent,  was  made  up  of 
variou;  vegetable  substances  and  was  found 
mostly  in  stomachs  taken  in  winter.  Beetles  con- 
stituted J I  per  cent,  of  the  whole  food,  grass- 
hoppers 22.  caterpillars  10,  and  various  other 
insects  9,  while  a  number  of  spiders  and  luyria- 
pods,  about  6  per  cent.,  comprised  the  remainder 
of  the  animal  diet.  .\1I  these  are  more  or  less 
harmful,  except  a  few  predacious  beetles,  which 
amounted  to  9  per  cent.  The  destruction  of 
grasshoppers  by  Bluebirds  is  very  noticeable  in 
August  and  September,  when  these  insects  make 
up  about  53  per  cent,  of  the  diet.  So  far  as  its 
vegetable  food  is  concerned  the  Bluebird  is  posi- 
tively harmless.  The  only  trace  of  anv  useful 
product  in  the  stomachs  consisted  of  a  few  black- 
berry seeds,  and  even  these  ])robab!y  belonged  to 
wild  rather  than  cultivated  varieties. 

The  Azure  Bluebird  ( Sialia  sialis  fiilz'a ) 
wanders  over  the  Mexican  border  into  .\rizona. 
It  is  much  like  the  tyjie  S[)ecies,  though  the 
browns  of  its  plumage  are  paler,  the  grayish- 
blue  nearer  a  gray-white,  and  the  blue  of  the 
upper  parts  greener. 


WESTERN   BLUEBIRD 
Sialia    mexicana    occidentalis   J.    K.    To7cnscnd 


Other  Name.— California   Bluebird. 

General  Description.—  Length,  7  inches.  M.\le  : 
Upper  parts,  cobalt-blue ;  under  parts,  blue  and  red. 
Fem.^le:  Upper  parts,  grayish-brown  and  blue;  under 
parts,  grayish-brown,  brownish-gray,  and  cinnamon- 
rufous.  Bill,  small  and  slender;  win,gs,  lon.g  and 
pointed  ;  tail,  shorter  than  wing,  distinctly  notched : 
legs,   short. 

Color. —  .^iiui.T  M.m.e:  Above;  idain  rich  cobalt-lihie. 
brighter  blue  on  rump,  upper  tail-coverts,  tail,  and  outer 
webs  of  primaries;  shafts  of  feathers  of  wing  and  tail, 
sometimes  also  of  shoulder,  the  upper  tail-coverts  some- 


times with  streaks  of  black  ;  a  patch  of  chestnut  on  back- 
between  shoulders ;  sides  of  head,  chin,  throat,  upper 
central  (usually  also  whole  center  of)  chest,  and  breast, 
uniform  blue,  slightly  paler  and  duller  than  color  of 
upper  parts,  the  blue  gradually  fading  on  abdomen  and 
flanks  into  pale  gray;  sides  of  chest  and  breast  and 
front  part  of  sides,  chestnut,  this  extended  across  chest, 
connecting  the  two  lateral  areas,  extending  along  sides 
to  flanks ;  under  tail-coverts,  blue  edged  basally  with 
pale  gray ;  under  wing-coverts,  darker  blue ;  bill,  black  ; 
iris,  dark  brown.  .-Vuclt  Fem.m.e:  Crown,  hindneck, 
dark  brownish-gray;  back  and  shoulders,  light  grayish- 


244 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


brown  forming  a  distinct  patch ;  rump  and  lesser  wing- 
coverts,  dull  blue,  the  former  rather  brighter,  passing 
into  bright  blue  on  upper  tail-coverts  and  tail ;  middle 
and  greater  wing-coverts  and  inner  quills,  dusky  gray- 
ish-brown edged  with  paler  brownish-gray  or  bluish ; 
secondaries,  dull  bluish ;  the  primaries,  lighter  and 
brighter  blue  narrowly  edged  with  whitish,  the  outer- 
most broadly  edged  with  white;  sides  of  head,  throat, 
center  portion  of  upper  chest,  and  breast,  light  brownish- 
gray  passing  into  dull  grayish  on  chin;  sides  of  chest 
and  breast  and  more  or  less  of  sides,  dull  cinnamon- 
rufous;  abdomen  and  flanks,  pale  grayish-brown;  under 
tail-coverts  pale  dull  grayish-blue,  edged  with  pale 
brownish-gray,  usually  with  a  dusky  shaft-streak; 
under  wing-coverts,  dull  grayish-blue  ur  bluish-gray ; 
bill  and  iris  as  in  male. 


Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest:  In  holes  of  dead  trees, 
between  the  trunk  and  loose  bark,  and,  in  the  more 
settled  parts  of  its  range,  in  boxes  supplied  for  the 
purpose;  comprised  of  sticks,  straw,  hay,  or  any 
similar  material.  Eggs:  4  or  5,  uniform  pale  blue, 
somewhat  deeper  in  shade  than  those  of  the  Eastern 
Bluebird. 

Distribution. —  Pacific  coast  district  from  Los  An- 
geles county,  California,  to  British  Columbia,  chiefly 
from  the  coast  to  the  western  slope  of  the  Sierra 
Nevada  and  Cascade  ranges,  but  extending  eastward 
through  eastern  Oregon  and  Washington  to  northern 
Idaho  and  western  Montana  (breeding)  ;  northward  to 
British  Columbia  (X'ancouver  Island);  southward  in 
winter  as  far  as  San  Pedro  Martir  Mountains,  Lower 
California. 


This  form  so  strongly  resembles  the  Common 
Bluebird  of  the  Eastern  States  that  only  a  trained 
eye  would  detect  the  color  difference  between  -the 
two  birds.  Its  habits  and  disposition,  too,  are 
virtually  those  of  the  eastern  bird,  nor  is  there 
any  material  difference  between  the  economic 
status  of  the  two,  both  undottbtedly  doing  very 
valuable  work  in  the  destruction  of  insect-pests. 

In  an  examination  of  217  stomachs  of  the 
JVestern  Bluebird,  animal  matter  ( insects  and 
spiders)  was  found  to  the  extent  of  82  per  cent, 
and  vegetable  matter  to  the  extent  of  18  per 
cent.  The  bulk  of  the  former  consisted  of  bugs, 
grasshoppers,  and  caterpillars.  Grasshoppers, 
when  they  can  be  obtained,  are  eaten  freely  dur- 
ing the  whole  season.  Caterpillars  also  are  a 
favorite  food  and  are  eaten  during  every  month 


of  the  year;  March  is  the  month  of  greatest  con- 
sumption, with  50  per  cent.,  and  the  average  for 
the  year  is  20  per  cent.  Two  stomachs  taken  in 
January  contained  64  and  50  per  cent.,  respec- 
tively, of  caterpillars.  Beetles  also  are  eaten  and 
comprise  mostly  harmful  species.  The  vegetable 
matter  consists  of  weed  seeds  and  small  fruits. 
In  December  a  few  grapes  are  eaten,  but  elder- 
berries are  the  favorites  whenever  they  can  be 
found. 

The  southern  Rocky  Mountain  region  has  two 
slightly  differing  forms  of  Western  Bluebird. 
The  Chestnut-backed  Bluebird  {Sialia  mcxicaiia 
bairdi )  ranges  through  Utah,  Colorado,  and 
western  Texas  south  into  Mexico ;  the  San  Pedro 
Bluebird  (Sialia  iiicxicaiia  anahchr)  breeds  in 
San  Pedro  Martir  Mountains. 


MOUNTAIN    BLUEBIRD 
Sialia    currucoides    (Bcclistc'm) 


A.    O.   U.    Xumbe 


Other  Name. — .Arctic  Bluebird. 

General  Description. —  Length.  y%  inches.  Male: 
Upper  parts,  cerulean-blue ;  under  parts,  turquoise-blue 
and  white.  Fe.m.'^le:  Upper  parts,  gray  and  tur- 
quoise-blue ;  under  parts,  brownish-gray  and  white. 
Bill,  small  and  slender;  wings,  long  and  pointed;  tail. 
shorter  than  wing,  distinctly  notched ;  legs,  short. 

Color. —  Adult  M,\le  :  Above,  plain  rich  cerulean- 
blue,  the  wings  and  tail  slightly  more  cohalt-blue ;  shafts 
of  wing-  and  tail-feathers,  black,  and  terminal  portion 
of  primaries,  dusky;  sides  of  head,  chin,  throat,  chest, 
breast,  and  sides  plain  turquoise-blue,  decidedly  paler 
and  less  bright  than  color  of  upper  parts;  abdomen, 
hinder  flanks,  anal  region,  and  shorter  under  tail- 
coverts  white ;  longer  under  tail-coverts  pale  turquoise 
tipped  or  margined  with  white ;  bill,  black ;  iris,  dark 


brown,  .'^dult  Female:  Crown,  hindneck.  back,  and 
shoulders  plain  mouse-gray,  sometimes  faintly  tinged 
with  greenish-blue;  rump,  upper  tail-coverts,  tail,  and 
wing  (except  inner  feathers),  turquoise-blue;  inner 
quills  and  greater  wing-coverts,  similar  in  color  to  back, 
but  darker,  edged  with  paler,  and  sometimes  tinged  with 
blue;  lesser  and  middle  wing-coverts  dull  greenish-blue, 
or  else  dusky  brownish-gray  margined  with  bluish ; 
an  eye-ring  of  dull  white;  sides  of  head  similar  in 
color  to  crown  but  rather  browner;  chin,  throat,  chest, 
breast,  and  sides,  pale  brownish-gray  passing  into  dull 
white  on  abdomen,  hinder  flanks,  anal  region,  and  under 
tail-coverts,  the  longer  of  the  latter  with  dusky  shaft- 
streaks  and  sometimes  tinged  with  blue ;  bill  and  iris 
as  in  the  male. 
Nest  and  Eggs. —  Nest  :     Placed  in  a  hollow   limb. 


THRUSHES 


245 


abandoned  Woodpecker  hole,  corners  oi  barns  and  out- 
buildings, and  even  under  the  eaves  of  porches  or 
houses;  in  parts  of  the  West,  old  abandoned  mine  shafts 
are  utilized;  the  nest  is  built  almost  entirely  of  dried 
grass,  and  is  lined  occasionally  with  a  few  feathers  and 
hue  strips  of  cedar  or  other  tree  bark.  Eggs:  From  4 
to  7,  usually  5,  plain  greenish-blue. 

Distribution. —  Mountain  districts  of  western   North 
America ;    north   to   Mackenzie   and    Yukon     Territory ; 


breeding  southward  to  higher  mountains  of  Xew 
Me.xico  and  Arizona  (San  Francisco  and  MogoUon 
Mountains),  and  Chihuahua,  eastward  to  eastern  Wyo- 
ming (Black  Hills)  and  northwestern  Texas,  westward 
to  the  Sierra  Nevada  and  Cascade  ranges ;  wintering 
southward  from  southern  California  and  Colorado  to 
Guadalupe  Island,  Lower  California,  northern  Sonora, 
and  northwestern  Chihuahua  and  eastward  to  Kansas. 
Oklahoma,  and  Texas. 


Though  it  is  somewhat  larger,  and  has  a  jiro- 
portioiiately  shorter  tail,  the  Mountain  liluebird 
presents  a  general  appearance  very  similar  to 
that  of  its  eastern  relative.  As  its  name  indi- 
cates, however,  it  has  a  distinct  liking  for  the 
mountains.  A\'ells  ^^'.  Cooke  found  the  birds  in 
Colorado  above  timber-line  to  at  least  13,000 
feet.  Another  observer  records  being  greeted  by 
a  little  family  of  them  near  the  summit  of  San 
Antonio  Peak  ( "  Old  Baldy," )  in  southern  Cali- 
fornia, at  an  altitude  of  nearly  10,000  feet,  at 
that  time  far  above  the  clouds,  through  whose 
dense    billows   the   highest   of    the    surrounding 


peaks  protruded  like  islands  in  a  motionless  sea. 
The  indescribable  weirdness  of  the  scene,  and 
the  unearthly  quiet,  which  had  deeply  imjiressed 
the  lone  wanderer,  had  no  apparent  efifect  upon 
the  Bluebirds,  whose  warbling  was-  as  sweet 
and  gentle  up  there  above  the  clouds  as  that  of 
their  eastern  brethern  in  a  Connecticut  X'alley 
orchard. 

Their  insect  food  is  obtainable  at  all  times  of 
the  year,  and  the  general  diet  varies  only  in  the 
fall,  when  some  frtiit,  principallv  elderberries, 
is  eaten,  though  an  occasional  blackberry  or 
grape  is  also  relished. 


Drawing  by  R.  I.  Br, 


MOUNTAIN  BLUEBIRD  - ;,  nat.  sizei 
A  gentle  mountaineer  often  found  far  above  timber-line 


BIRDS    OF   AMERICA 


The  above  Chart  is  hmited  to  a  consideration  of  the  birds  of  America, 
and  follows  the  terminology  of  the  official  Check  List  of  the  American 
Ornithologists'  Union,  and  of  the  preceding  pages  of  the  present  work. 
It  will  be  noted  that  the  Class,  Birds,  comprises  seventeen  Orders  in  North 
America,  the  names  of  which  are  listed  in  the  second  circle.  These  Orders 
are  subdivided  into  Families.  Beginning  with  the  lowest  form,  the  Grebes, 
the  gradual  development  of  bird  life  can  be  traced  around  the  circle  to 
the  highest  form,  the  Thrushes. 


[246I 


COLOR  KEY  TO  WATER  BIRDS 


Sooty   Shearwater 
Water    Turkey 
Cormorant 
Double-crested   Lormorant 


BLACK 

Size  of  Duck  or  Larger 

Brandt's   Cormcirant 
Man-o'-war-bird 
Black  Duck 
Florida    Duck 


Scoter 

White-winged   Scoter 
Surf  Scoter 
Black-footed  Albatross 


Fork-tailed  Petrel 
Least   Petrel 
Kaeding's  Petrel 


Smaller  than  Duck 


Storm    Petrel 
Wilson's   Petrel 
Black  Tern 


Black  Rail 

Coot 

Black   CJvster-catche 


Western   Grebe 

Loon 

Black-throated   Loon 

Murre 

California   Murre 

Briinnich's   Murre 

Razor-billed   Auk 

Great  Auk 

Great   Black-backed   Cull 

Black  Skimmer 

Laysan  Albatross 

Scaup  Duck 

Lesser  Scaup  Duck 


BLACK  AND  WHITE 

Size  of  Duck  or  Larger 

RinR-nccked    Duck 
Golden-eye   (head  purple) 
Barrow's    Golden-eve     (head    ij 

ish) 
Buffle-head 
Harlequin   Duck 
Labrador    Duck 
Steller's  Eider 
Spectacled   Eider 
Xorthern   Eider 
Eider 

King  Eider 
Canada  (lnose    ( liack  brown) 


Hutchins's    Gone    (hack    brown) 

White-cheeked  Goose    (back  br(.iwn ) 

Cackling  Goose   (back  brown) 

Brant    (back  brown) 

Black   Brant   (back  brown) 

Merganser 

Hooded  Merganser  (head  green) 

Mallard   (head  green) 

Shoveller   (head  green) 

Old-squaw 

Vellow-crowned   Xight   Heron 


Horned  Grebe 
Eared  Grebe 
Tufted   Puftiii 
Puffin 

Cassin's   A'lklet 
Crested   Auklef 
Least  Anklet 
Ancient   Murrelet 
Black  Guillemot 
Pigeon  Guillemot 


Smaller  than  Duck 

Dovekie 

Pomarine   Jaeger 
Parasitic  Jaeger 
Long-tailed  Jaeger 
Sooty  Tern 
Greater   Shearwater 
Leach's   Petrel 
Black-crowned  Xight  Heron 
Black-necked  Stilt 
Black-bellied  Plover 


Golden   Plover 
Oyster-catcher 
Black  Turnstone 
Purple  Sandjiiper 
Alentian  Sandpiper 
Pribilof   Sandpiper 
Greater  Vellow-legs 
Vellow-legs 
Solitary  Sandpiper 
Western   Solitary  Sandpiper 


Holbcell's   Grebe 
Red-throated  Loon 
Red-hreasted  Merganser 


BLACK,  RED.  AND  WHITE 

Size  of  Duck  or  Smaller 

Wood    Duck 

Redhead 

Canvas-back 


Red  Phalarope 
Red-backed    Sandpiper 


248 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


Ivory   Gull 
Glaucous  Gull 
Glaucous-winged  Gull 
Vellow-billed  Tropic-bird 
Red-billed   Tropic-bird 
Gannet 


WHITE 

Size  of  Duck  or  Larger 

Snow  Goose 
Greater  Snow   Goose 
Whistling   Swan 
Trumpeter  Swan 
Roseate  Spoonbill 
White   Ibis 


Wood  Ibis 

Great   White   Heron 

Egret 

Whooping   Crane 

White   Pelican 


Ross's  Gull 
Snowy   Egret 


Smaller  than  Duck 


Little   Blue  Heron   (white  phase) 
Avocet    (primaries  black) 


Skua 

Booby    {whitish   below) 


BROWNISH 

Size  of  Duck  or  Larger 

Brown   I'elican 
White- fronted   Goose 


Limpkin 


Bittern 


Smaller  than  Duck 

Xoddv 


BROWNISH,   MIXED  OR   STREAKED  WITH    YELLOWISH  OR  WHITE 

(Tsually     h.yhter    beh.w) 
Size  of  Duck  or  Larger 


Gadwall 

European    Widgeon 


I'.aldpate 
Pintail 


Cory's  Shearwater 

Least  Bittern 

King  Rail 

California  Clapper   Rail 

Clapper  Rail 

Louisiana  Clapper  Rail 

Caribbean   Clapper  Rail 

\'irginia   Rail 

Sora 

Yellow   Rail 

Woodcock 

Wilson's  Snipe 


Smaller  than  Duck 

Dowitcher 

Long-billed  Dowitcher 
Stilt  Sandpiper 
Pectoral  Sandpiper 
White-rumped  Sandpiper 
Baird's    Sandpiper 
Least   Sandpiper 
Semipahnated   Sandpiper 
Western    Sandpiper 
Marbled  Godwit 
Pacific  Godwit 


Hudsonian   Godwit 
WiUet 

Western  Willet 
Upland  Plover 
F!uff-breasted  Sandpiper 
Spotted   Sandpiper 
Hudsonian   Curlew 
Long-billed  Curlew 
Eskimo   Curlew 
Turnstone 
Ruddv  Turnstone 


RED 

Larger   than   Duck 
Flamingo 


Herring  Gull 
California  Gull 
king-billed   Gull 


COLOR    KEY 

BLUISH-GRAY  ABOVE,  WHITE  BELOW 
Size  of  Duck  or  Larger 


i'ulniar 
Pacific   I'liln 
Blue  Goose 


Emperor  Goose 
Great   Ilhie   Heron 


?49 


Smaller  than  Duck 


Kittiwake 

Pacific   Kittiwake 

Laughing  Gull   (liead  black) 

Franklin's  Gull    (head  black) 

Bonaparte's   Gull 

Sabine's   Gull    (  bead   black  ) 

Heerniann's  Gull    (bead  white) 


Gull-billed    Tern 
Laspian    rern 
Royal  Tern 
Cabot's  Tern 
I'orster's   Tern 
Common    Tern 
Arctic     I  ern 


Roseate  Tern 

Least   Tern 

Northern  Phalarope 

Sanderling 

Knot    (breast  chestnut) 

Surf-bird 


All   tlie    Terns    in    this   group    have    tlie    crown    lilack 


Little   Brown   Crane 


SLATE-GRAY 
Larger   than    Duck 

Sandhill   I  rane 


Florida   Gallinule 


Smaller  than   Duck 

Louisiana    HcT(in    (white   bcli)w) 


Little  I'due   Heron    (dark  phase) 


CHESTNUT 
Size  of  Duck  or  Larger 

Green- winged     Teal     (back     mottled  Cimianmn    'Ical    (liack  mottled    witli     Cilossy    Ibis    (back   irridescent   l)lack- 

gray     and     white,     breast     spotted  dusk\    and    brown  I                                        i-.)!  ) 

with   black)  Ruddy    Duck    (crown  black,    cheeks     White-faced   (ilossy   Ibis    (back   irri- 

Pdue-winged  Teal   (head  gray,  white  and  cliin   wliite)                                           descent  blackisli,   face  white) 

crescent  in   front  of  eve) 


GREENISH 

Smaller  than  Duck 

Green   Heron    (throat   streaked   with    dark   chestnut) 


Semipalmated   Plover 
Ringed    Plover 
Piping  Plover 


GRAYISH-BROWN    ABOVE,    WHITE   BELOW 
Smaller  than   Duck 


Snowv   r'k.ver 
Wilson's    Plover 
Mountain    Plover 


Killdecr  I  two  black  bands  on  breast) 
\\'ilson's   Phalarope    (neck   rnfmis) 


PURPLE 

Smaller  than  Duck 

Purple   Gallinule 


COLOR  KEY  TO  LAND  BIRDS 


California    Wiltiire 
\\\U\   Turkey 
Black   Wilture 
Raven 

White-necked  Raven 
Rough-legged   Hawk 


BLACK 

Size  of  Crow  or   Larger 

Zone-tailed   Hawk 

Crow 

Dusky  Grouse 

I'ranklin's  Grouse 

P.ald    Eagle    (young) 


Black  Gyr falcon 

Everglade  Kite 

Audubon's  Caracara 

Fish   Crow 

Hudsonian  Spruce  Partridge 


Ivory-billed  Woodpecker 
Lewis's  Woodpecker 
Groove-billed   An! 


Size  between  Crow  and  Robin 

Purple   Gracklc 
Brewer's   Blackbird 
Rustv   Blackbird 


Pileated  Woodpecker 
Boat-tailed  Crackle 
Starling 


Purple  Martin 
Cowbird 
Red-eved   Cowbird 


Smaller  than  Robin 


Phainopepla 
Catbird 


P.lack   Swift 
Dipper 


Bald  Eagle 
Swallow-tailed  Kite 


BLACK    AND    WHITE 

Size  of  Crow  or   Larger 

Duck   Hawk 
Osprey 


Magpie 


Size  between  Crow  and  Robin 

Xighthawk  Pigeon    Hawk 


Hairy  Woodjiecker 
Black-headed   Grosbeak 
Downy   Woodpecker 
Texas  Woodpecker 
White-headed   Woodpecker 
Williamson's   Sapsucker 
Towhee 
Arctic  Towhee 


Smaller  than  Robin 

Snow    Bunting 

Slate-colored  J  unco 

Seaside  Sparrow 

Barn  Swallow 

Arctic  Three-toed  Woodpecker 

Three-toed  Woodpecker 

Aut-eating  Woodpecker 

Nuttall's  Wood])ecker 


Ked-cockaded   Woodpecker 

Kingbird 

Bobolink    (male,   summer) 

Black   Plircbe 

Chff  Swallow 

Lark  Bunting 

White-throated  Swift 


Red-winged    Blackbird 
Bicolored   Red-wing 


BLACK   AND    RED 
Smaller  than  Robin 


Scarlet  Tanager 
Western  Tanager 


^50l 


Painted  Redstart 


Rose-breasted  Grosbeak 
Red-headed  Woodpecker 
Rcd-bellied   Woodpecker 


COLOR    KEY 

BLACK,   RED,   AND   WHITE 

Size  of  Robin 

CloIdeii-fn.nte.I    Woodpecker 
Gila   Woodpecker 


BLACK   AND   ORANGE 

Smaller  than   Robin 

P.altimorc   (  )ri<.lc 


Tricolored  Red-wing 
Red-breasted  Sapsucker 


251 


Audubon's   Oriole 
Bullock's   Oriole 
Scott's   Oriole 


BLACK  AND  YELLOW 

Size  of  Robin 

Sennett's   (  )riole 
Yellow-bellied   Sapsucker 
Vellow-Iieaded   Blackbird 


F.venins   Grosbeak 
Meadowlark    (brown   above) 
Western    Meadowlark    (Hra\'    above) 


Goldfinch 


Smaller  than  Robin 

Arkansas   (ioldfinch 


BLACK  AND  BROWN 

Smaller  than   Robin 

(  )rcliard    I  )ri(.|c 


White  Gvrfalcon 


Willow   I'tarniigan    (winter) 


WHITE 
Size  of  Crow  or   Larger 

SnouN    Owl 


White-tailed   Kite   (u|]|ier  parts  i>.ile 
gray,   shoulders   black  ) 


Size  between   Crow  and   Robin 

Rock    I'tanniLiaii    («  inter  I  White-tailed    Ptarmigan    (winter) 


Smaller  than  Robin 
Snow    Hunting    1  some  brownish) 


Golden    Eagle 
Turkey    X'ultur 


Cliuck- will's -widow 
Sliarrow    Hawk 


BROWNISH 

Size  of  Crow  or   Larger 

Great   Horned   1  )«1 
Rutted   Gn.use 

Size  between   Crow  and   Robin 

B.iat-tarled    (  .rackle    (  female  ) 
Whip-p,M,r-wilI 


Spotted    Owl 

Marsh    Hawk    (\oung,   rump   white) 


Mourning   Do\e 

( 'alil'iirnia   Thrasher 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


Smaller  than  Robin 

Canon   Tovvhee  Chimney   Swift 

Abert's   Towhee  \'aux's   Swift 

European  Goldfinch   (  face  red,  wing-  Cedar  Waxwing 

patch   yellow  )  liohemian   Waxwing 

Olive-sided       Flycatclier       (streaked  Gray-crowned    Rosy   Finch 

above  and  below)  Carolina  Wren 

Crested    Flycatcher  House  Wren 


Winter  Wren 

Brown     Creeper     (streaked     length- 
wise  with   lighter ) 
Say's  Pha-be 
Bank  Swallow 
Rough-winged   Swallow 


BROWNISH,   MIXED   OR  STREAKED   WITH    YELLOWISH   OR  WHITE 

(I'sually   lighter   below) 
Size  of  Crow  or  Larger 


Goshawk    (young) 

Red-tailed   Hawk 

Harris's   Hawk 

Red-shouldered    Hawk 

Swainson's  Hawk 

Rough-legged  Hawk   (light  .phase) 


Gry  falcon 
Prairie  Falcon 
Broad-winged   Hawk 
Road-runner 
Prairie  I'liicken 
Heath    Hen 


Sage  Hen 

Sharp-tailed  Grouse 
Barred  Owl 
Long-eared  Owl 
Short-eared   Owl 
Barn   Owl 


Cooper's  Hawk    (young) 
Pigeon  Hawk   (young) 
Sharp-shinned  Hawk   (young) 
Hawk  Owl 
Saw-whet  Owl 
Richardson's   Owl 


Size  between   Crow  and   Robin 

Burrowing   (  )wl 

Screech  Owl 

Willow   Ptarmigan    (sunnner) 

Rock  Ptarmigan   (summer) 

White-tailed    Ptarmigan    (sunnner) 

I!cb-white 


Masked    Bob-white 
Mearns's  Quail 
Poor-will 
Brown  Thrasher 
Flicker     (transversely 
black  on   back) 


barred     with 


Red-winged   Blackbird    (female) 
Bobolink    (male   in   autumn,    female 

and  young ) 
Williamson's  Sapsucker   (female) 
Pygmy   Owl 
Elf  Owl 

Coues's   Flycatcher 
Purple   Finch    (  female) 
House   Finch 
Redpoll 
Pine  Siskin 
Lapland  Longspur 
Ipswich    Sparrow 
Savannah   Sparrow 
Grasshopper   Sparrow 
Henslow's   Sparrow 


Smaller  than  Robin 

Sharp-tailed    Sparrow 
Lark  Sparrow 
Harris's    Sparrow 
White-crowned   Sparrow 
White-throated   Sparrow 
Golden-crowned  Sparrow 
Tree   Sparrow 
('hipping  Sparrow- 
Field  Sparrow 
Pine-woods    Sparrow 
Song  Sparrow 
Lincoln's   Sparrow 
Vesper   Sparrow 
Swamp   Sparrow 
Fox   Sparrow 
Skylark 


Pipit 

Sage  Thrasher 

Cactus  Wren 

Rock   Wren 

Bewick's  Wren 

Short-billed   Marsh   Wren 

Long-billed  Marsh  Wren 

Wren -Tit 

Wood  Thrush 

Veery 

Gray-cheeked  Thrush 

Olive-backed  Tlirush 

Russett-backed  Thrush 

Hermit  Thrusli 

Ground   Dove 

Inca   Dove 


Cardinal 

Summer  Tanager 
Crossbill 


RED 

Size   of    Robin    or   Smaller 

White-winged   Crossbill 

Pine  Grosbeak  (upper  parts  gray) 

Purple   Finch    (male) 


\'aried  Bunting  (forehead  and  rump 

blue ) 
Painted   Bunting 


COLOR    KEY 


253 


Arizona   Jay 
Florida  Jav 


BLUE 

Size  between  Crow  and  Robin 

California  Jay   (below  white) 
Woodhoiise's    la\-    (belnw   crav) 


Steller's  Jay    (head   black) 
Blue  Jay 


Bluebird    (breast   rufous) 
Mountain   Bhicbird   (white  below- 


Smaller  than  Robin 

Western    I'duebird    (breast   and  back     Blue  Grosbeak 

rufous)  Indigo  BuntiiiK   (male) 

Lazuli   lluntin.t!   (male) 


GREEN 
Size  between  Crow  and  Robin 


Carolina   Paro(|uet 
Thick-billed   I'arrot 


Coppery-tailed    Trogon 
Green    lay 


Rivoli's  HuiTimingbird 
Ruby-throated  Hummingbird 
Biue-throated   Hummingbird 


Smaller  than  Robin 

Black-chimied  Hummingbird 
Anna's   Hummingbinl 


Broad-tailed  Hummingbird 
Rufous  Hummingbird 


Texas  Kingfisher 


GREEN  AND  WHITE 
Smaller  than  Robin 
Violet-green   Swallow 


Tree  Sw-allow 


Mississippi  Kite  (  ashy  below) 
Great  Gray  Owl 


GRAYISH 

(L'sualh    lighter   below) 

Size  of  Crow  or  Larger 

Marsh   Hawk   ( riunp  white) 
Goshawk    (  linelv   barred    below) 


Bennett's  White-tailed  Hawk  ('shoul- 
ders   rufous) 


Size   Between    Crow  and   Robin 


Clarke's   Nutcracker 
Sharp-shinned    Hawk    (rufous, 
barred,  below ) 


Robin   (rufous  below) 
Bendire's   Thrasher 
Leconte's  Thrasher 
Crissal  Thrasher 
Mockingbird 
Northern   Shrike 
Loggerhead  Shrike 
Townsend's   Solitaire 
Scissor-tailed    I'lycatcher 
Gray  Kingbird 
Phrebe 
\\'ood  Pewee 


Coojier's      Hawk       (rufdus, 

below- ) 
Screech   Ci\\\    (gra\    phase) 


barred,     VeIlow--billed  Cuckoo 
Black-billed   Cuckoo 
Canada  Jay- 


Size    of  Robin   or  Smaller 

\\'estern  Wood   Pewee 
Least  Flycatcher 
Yellow-bellied  Mycatcher 
Horned   Lark 
Black-chinned  Sparrow 
Black-throated   Sparrow- 
Arizona     Pyrrhuloxia     (crimson 

center  below- ) 
Bell's  Sparrow 
Dickcissel 
Warbling  Vireo 
Philadelplila  \'ireo 


Black-capped  Vireo 
Bell's   \'ireo 
Tufted  Titmouse 
Bridled   Titmouse 
Black-crested   Titmouse 
Chickadee 

Mountain   Chickadee 
Hudsonian   Chickadee 
Acadian   Chickadee 
Chestnut-backed   Chickadee 
Bush-Tit 
Verdin 


254 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


llaiid-tailed   Pigeon 

Passenger  Pigeon    (  rufous  below") 

White-winged   Dove 

Mountain  Quail 


BLUISH-GRAY 

(lighter  below) 

Size  between  Crow  and  Robin 

California  Quail 
Scaled   Quail 
Ganibel's   Quail 
Belted   Kingfisher 


Pinon  Jay 

Varied    Thrush    (below    rusty,   black 
chest-band) 


Red-breasted 
below) 


Nuthatch 


Smaller  Than  Robin 

Brown-headed   Nuthatch 
Pygmy  Nuthatch 


White-breasted    Nuthatch 
Blue-gray  Gnatcatcher 


GREENISH-GRAY 

(usually    white    or    \ellowisli    lielow) 

Size   of   Robin   or   Smaller 

Arkansas  Kingbird  Red-eyed   \'ireo 

(jreen-tailed  Towhee  (crown  rufous  )  f'.Iue-headed  X'ireo 

Texas  Sparrow  (crown  brown,  white  White-eyed  Vireo 

center  stripe)  Ruby-crowned  Kinglet 

Yellow-throated  Vireo  Golden-crowned  Kinglet 


Alder  Flycatcher 
Traill's  Flycatcher 
Acadian  Flycatcher 
Western   Flycatcher 
Yellow-bellied  I'Tycatcher 


COLOR    KEY    TO    WARBLERS 


BLACK  AND  WHITE  STRIPED 

Black  and  White  Warbler  r.lack-p.ill  Warbler 

Mvrtle  W  arbler  Audubon's   Warbler 


BLACK   AND   RED 

Redstart 


BLACK   AND   YELLOW 

lownsend's  W  arbler  Blackburnian  Warbler  Magnolia  Warbler 

Ciolden-cheeked  W  arbler  Hermit  Warbler 


BLACK   AND    GRAY 

Golden-winged   Warbler  Black-throated  Gray  Warbler 


BLACK,  GRAY,  AND  YELLOW 

Yellow-throated   W  arbler  Grace's  W  arbler 


YELLOW 


Protlionotary   Warbler  Wilson's  Warbler  Yellow  Warbler 

Cape  May  Warbler  Blue-winged  Warbler 


OLIVE  ABOVE;  YELLOW  BELOW 

^"ellow-breastel^    Chat  Hooded   Warbler  Kirtland's  Warbler 

Maryland   ^'eIlo\v-throat  Ileldintj's    Yellow-throat  Prairie  Warbler 

MourniuK  Warbler  Macgillivray's  Warbler  Lawrence's  Warbler 

Ovenbird  Kentucky  Warbler  Black-throated     Blue    Warbler     (fe- 

Pdack-throated  Green  Warbler  Yellow  Palm  Warbler  male) 

Olive  Warbler 


OLIVE  ABOVE;    WHITE   BELOW 

Chestnut-sided  Warbler 
Vol.  ni.-i8  [255] 


256  BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 

DUSKY  OLIVE  ABOVE;    WHITISH   OR    YELLOWISH  BELOW 

Swainson's  Warbler  Louisiana  Water-Thrush  Nasliville  Warbler 

Tennessee  Warbler  Bay-breasted   Warbler  Water-Thrush 

Pine  Warbler  Worm-eating   Warbler  Connecticut  Warbler 


GRAY   ABOVE;    WHITE   BELOW 

Brewster's  Warbler  Lucy's  W  arbler 

Virginia's  Warbler  Parula  Warbler 


GRAY  ABOVE;  YELLOW  BELOW 

Canada  W  arbler 


BLUE  ABOVE;    WHITE  BELOW 

Cerulean  Warbler 


BLUE  AND  BLACK;  WHITE  BELOW 

pjlack-thronted   P.luc  \\'arbler    (male) 


GLOSSARY 


( /-■,')•  tin- 


riilific  iiaiHi-s  of  III,-  (inl,-rs.siihord,-rs.  anil  j'aiiiilu-s   of  birds,  consiill   the   Index.) 


Abdominal.     Relating  to   the  abdomen  or  helly. 

Abnormal.      Irregular;   not   conforming   to   tlie   type. 

Acuminate.     Terminating  in  a  long  tapering  point. 

Acute.     Sharp-pointed. 

Adult.  Of  breeding  age,  usually  witli  fully  mature 
plumage. 

Aerial.      Inliabiting  the  air  ;  performed   in   the  air. 

Air-sac.  Any  one  of  the  spaces,  in  different  parts  of 
the  bodies  of  birds,  which  are  filled  with  air  and  con- 
nected with  the  air  passages  of  the  lungs. 

Albinism.  .\n  abnormal  condition  of  plumage,  in 
wliich  white  replaces  tlie  ordinary  colors. 

Albino.     Affected  witli  albinism. 

Algae.     Seaweed. 

Alpine.  Pertaining  to  high  altitudes,  chiefly  near 
timber  line. 

Altricial.     Young  are  helidess. 

Amphipod.  Of  or  belonging  to  the  -\mphipoda.  a 
suborder  of  crustaceans  including  the  sand  fleas  and 
allied  forms. 

Anal  region.  The  feathered  region  immediately  sur- 
rounding the  anus  or  vent. 

Annulated.     Surrounded  by  rings  of  color. 

Anterior,     b'nrward:  in  front  of. 

Anus.     The  vent. 

Apex.     Tip  iir  point. 

Apical.     Relating  to  the  tip  or  point. 

Aquatic.     Pertaining  to  or  living  in  tlie  water. 

Arboreal,     rv-rtamin.g  to  or  living  in  trees. 

Attenuate,  attenuated.  Growing  gradually  nariower 
toward  the  ti]),  but  not  sharply  pointed. 

Auriculars.     Ear-coverts  ;  ear  region. 

Avi-fauna.     The  bird-life  of  a  given  region. 

Axillaries,  axillars.  The  elongated  feathers  grow- 
ing from  the  axilla  or  armpit. 

Bar.     A  transverse  mark. 

Basal.  Relating  to  or  situated  at  the  base.  The  basal 
part  of  a  feather  is  that  part  where  it  enters  the  skin  : 
the  basal  part  of  the  bill  is  that  part  nearest  the  head, 
and  not  the  lower  mandible. 

Belt.  A  broad  band  of  color  across  the  breast  or 
Iielly. 

Bevy.    A  flock,  as  of  Quails. 

Bicolor.     Of  two  colors. 

Boreal.  Xorthern  ;  used  by  scientists  to  designate  a 
division  of  the  earth  comprised  of  its  northern  and 
mountainous   parts. 

Bristle.  A  small  hairlike  feather  near  the  angle  of 
the  mouth,  or  rictus. 

Bronchi.     One  of  the  subdivisions  of  the  wiiulpipe. 

Calcareous.     Chalky ;  limy. 

Cambium.  In  certain  shrubs  and  trees  the  riii.g  of 
tissue  which  separates  the  wood  from  the  bark. 

Carnivorous,  flesh-eating;  feeding  or  preying  on 
other  animals. 

[257I 


Carpal.     Pertaining  to  the  carpus  or  wrist. 

Carpal  joint.     The  bend  of  the  wing. 

Caudal.     Relating  to  the  tail 

Cere.  A  soft  swollen  area  at  the  base  of  the  upper 
|iart  of  the  bill. 

Cervical.     Pertaining  to  the  cervi.x  or  hind  neck. 

Cinereous.     Ash-colored;  of  a  clear  bluish-gray. 

Clavicle.     The  collar  bone. 

Clutch.     A  complement  of  eggs;  a  brood  of  chicks. 

Coalesce.     To  unite ;  to  grow  together. 

Collar.  A  ring  of  colored  feathers  encircling  tlie 
neck. 

Commissure.  The  line  formed  In  the  closed  man- 
dibles  of  a   bird's   hill. 

Complement.  The  full  number,  as  of  the  eggs  of  a 
liird  :  clutch. 

Compressed.  Flattened  from  side  to  side;  the  oppo- 
site of  depressed. 

Concentric.  Having  a  common  center,  as  rings  lU' 
circles  one  within  another. 

Concolor.  Of  the  same  color  as  (some  other  ob- 
ject) ;  of  uniform  color. 

Confluent.  Running  into  or  blending  in  a  complete 
wdiole  ;  —  said  of  colors  in  plumage. 

Coniferous.     Bearing  cones,  as  the  cypress  and  pine. 

Conoid,  conoidal.  Resembling  or  approachin,g  a  cone 
in  shape. 

Contour  feathers.  The  connnon  feathers  that  form 
the   general   covering   of   a   bird,   determining   its   shape. 

Corrugate,  corrugated.     Furrowed  ;  wrinkled. 

Cosmopolitan.  \ot  restricted  to  any  locality;  found 
in  all  countries ;  world-wide. 

Covert.  Any  one  of  the  special  feathers  covering 
the  bases  of  the  quills  of  the  wings  and  tail  of  a  bird. 
They  are  called  upper  tail-coverts,  lower  tail-coverts, 
greater  coverts,  lesser  wing-coverts,  etc.,  accordin,g  to 
location. 

Covey.  An  old  bird  with  her  brood  ;  a  small  flock  ; 
—  used   chiefly   of   Grouse   and    Partridges. 

Crepuscular.    Active  at  twilight. 

Crescentic.     Crescent-shaped. 

Crest.    A  tuft  of  feathers  on  the  top  of  the  head. 

Crested.     Furnished  with  a  crest. 

Crown.     The  top  part  of  the  head. 

Crustacea.  .A  large  class  of  water-breathing  animals, 
including  the  water  fleas,  barnacles,  shrimps,  etc. 

Crustacean.     One  of  the  Crustacea. 

Cuneate.     Wedge-shaped. 

Curculio.     Any  snout  beetle. 

Cygnet.     A  young  Swan. 

Cylindrical.  .Shaped  somewdiat  like  a  cylinder,  as  the 
bills  of  the  Mergansers. 

Deciduous.      Shed  at  certain   periods   or  seasons. 

Decurved.  Bent  downward,  as  the  bill  in  certain 
birds.     Compare  recurved. 


^'"ca/,^ 


Drawing  by  Henry  Thurston 


THE  TOPOGRAPHY   OF  A  BIRD 
Baltimore  Oriole 

[25«l 


GLOSSARY 


259 


Deflated.     Emptied  of  air;  —  the  op[.osite  of  inflated. 

Depressed.  Ilmader  than  high:  the  opposite  of  com- 
pressed. 

Dichromatic.  Having  two  phases  of  color,  inde- 
pendently of  age,  sex.  or  season. 

Distal.  Toward  or  at  the  extremity  :  the  opposite  of 
proximal. 

Distribution.  Natural  .ideographical  range  of  a 
species  or  group. 

Diurnal.    .Active  in  the  daytime. 

Dorsal.  Situated  on  or  near  the  hack  ;  pertaining  to 
the  back. 

Down.  A  covering  of  fluffy,  soft  feathers;  young 
birds  are  covered  with  down  bemre  they  acipiire  nrili- 
nary  feathers.  Down  feathers  have  very  short  stem--, 
with  soft  barbs. 

Ear-coverts.  The  feathers  overlying  the  ears  of 
most  birds;  auriculars. 

Eared.     Having  tufts  of   feathers  resemblin.g  ears. 

Ear-tufts.  Tufts  of  elongated  feathers  on  each  side 
of  the  crown  or  forehead,  that  can  be  erected. 

Eclipse  plumage.  A  term  applied  to  the  inccini[)lete 
molt  of  the  m.des  ,,f  certain  birds. 

Economic  value.  The  usefulness,  or  otlierwise,  of 
a  bird  judged  by  its  food,  its  relation  to  agriculture,  etc. 

Elongate.  Used  in  the  sense  of  lengthened  or 
extended  ;  elongated. 

Emarginate.     Having  the  maruin  cut  away  :  notched. 

Environment.  The  external  conditions  and  influences 
alYecting  the  life  and  development  of  an  animal. 

Epignathous.  Upper  mandilde  longer  than,  and 
dccurved  over,  li.iwer. 

Erectile.     Capalile  of  being  erected  or  dilated. 

Exotic.  Foreign;  not  native;  introduced  from  a 
foreign  country. 

Facial  disks.     The  area  about  the  eyes  of  owls. 

Falciform.     Sickle-shaped ;  scythe-shaped. 

Family.  A  group  of  genera  agreeing  in  certain 
characters,  and  differing  in  one  or  more  characters 
from  other  families  of  the  order  to  which  they  belong. 

Fauna.     The  animal  life  of  a  region. 

Felt.  Matted  fibers  of  hair,  wool.  fur.  etc.;  to  cause 
to  mat  or  to  adhere  together. 

Ferruginous.  Like  iron  ru^t  in  color;  yellowish-red; 
brownish-red. 

Filament.     -\  barlj  of  a  down  feather. 

Filamentous.     Threadlike. 

Filiform.     Threadlike. 

Flag.  .\ny  one  of  the  secondaries  of  a  bird's  wing; 
also,  the  long  feathers  on  the  lower  part  of  tlie  legs 
of  certain  birds,  as  the  Owls  and  the  Hawks. 

Flush.      To  cause  a  bird  to  start  up  and  fly. 

Fore-neck.  The  throat;  sometimes  includes  chin, 
throat,  and  chest. 

Frontal.     Pertaining  to  tlie  foreheail, 

Frugivorous.     Feeding  on  fruit. 

Fulvous.  Tawny;  dull  yellowish  with  a  mixture  of 
brown  and  gray. 

Fuscous.     Dark  brown  ;  smoky  brown. 

Gallinaceous.  I^ike  the  pheasants  and  the  domestic 
fowls  :  hen-like. 

Gape.     The  opening  of  the  mouth. 

Genus  [[dural.  genera].  -A  group  of  species  agreeing 
in  certain  characters,  and  differing  from  other  genera 
of  the  family  to  which  they  belong;  also  a  single  species 
showing  unusual  difTerences. 

Glaucous.     Of  a  whitish-blue  or  whitish-green  color. 


Gonys.  The  outline  of  the  lower  mandible,  from  the 
ti]!  to  the  point  where  the  branches  fork. 

Gorget.  A  patch  on  the  throat,  distingualile  from 
the  surrounding  parts  because  of  its  color  or  for  some 
other  special  cause. 

Granular,  Granulated.  Having  nuiuerous  small 
elevations  on  the  surface;  hnupy. 

Greater  coverts.  The  hindmost  series  of  wing- 
coverts,  which  itumediately  overlap  the  basis  of  the 
secondaries. 

Gregarious.     Living  in  flocks. 

Ground  color.  The  main  color  of  the  general 
surface. 

Gular.     Pertaining  to  the  throat. 

Habitat.  Natural  abode;  the  kind  of  environment 
in  which  the  bird  occurs. 

Hibernate.  To  pass  the  winter  in  a  lethargic  or 
torpid  state. 

Hybrid.      Offspring   of   parents   of    different    species. 

Hymenopterous.  Relating  to  the  Hymenoptera.  an 
order  of  insects  wliich  includes  the  ants,  bees,  wasps, 
saw-flies,  etc. 

Immaculate,     L'nspotted  ;  uiuuarked. 

Immature.     Xc:>t  adult,  although   full-grown. 

Incubation.      The  act  of  sitting   on   eggs;  bromlin.g. 

Indigenous,  (irowing  or  living  naturally  in  a  country 
■  ir  region;  native;  not  imported. 

Inflated.     Filled   with  air;   the  opposite  of   deflated. 

Insectivorous.  Feeding  on  insects;  of  or  pertainin.g 
to  insects. 

Interscapulars.  The  feathers  in  the  middle  line  of 
the  back,  lietv.-een  tlie  scapulars  or  shoulders. 

Iridescent.  With  chan.geable  colors  or  tints  in  dif- 
ferent lights. 

Iris.  The  coloreil  circle  of  the  eye  surroumling  the 
pupil. 

Isochronal.  Recurring  at  regular  intervals;  uniforiu 
in  time. 

Isotherm.  In  physical  geo.graphy  a  line  niarkini; 
lioints  on  tlie  earth's  surface  liaving  the  same 
tetnperature. 

Jugular.  On,  or  relating  to  the  jugulum.  as  a 
jugular  collar. 

Jugulum.  The  lower  throat  or  foreneck  ;  imme- 
diately above  the  breast ;  sometimes  called  the  upper 
l)reast. 

Juvenal  plumage.  The  pkimage  inunediately  suc- 
ceeding the  natal  down. 

Lamella    [plural,   lamellae! .     A    thin    plate   or   scale. 

Lamellate.  Having  lamelke,  as  the  sides  of  a  Duck's 
bdl, 

Lamellirostral.  Having  a  lamellate  bill,  as  the 
l)ucks.   Geese,   and   .'swans. 

Larva  [plural,  larvae].  A  grub,  caterpillar,  maggot, 
etc. 

Lateral.     At  or  toward  the  side. 

Lesser  wing-coverts.  The  smaller  wing-coverts, 
those  covering  most  of  the  shoulder,  or  area  in  front  of 
the  middle  coverts. 

Linear.     Line-like. 

Littoral.  Pertaining  to  or  inhabiting  the  shore; 
coastal  region. 

Lobate,  lobated.  Having  lobes  or  flaps  along  the 
sides  of  tlie  toes. 

Loral.     Relating  to  the  lores. 

Lore.  The  space  between  the  eye  and  the  bill  ;^ 
generally  used  in  the  plural,  lores. 


SEMIPALMATED  FOOT 


YOKE-TOED  FOOT 


LOBED  FOOT 


SQUARE  TAIL 


ROUNDED  TAIL 


NOTCHED  OR 
EMARGINATED  TAIL 


FORKED    TAIL 


Dramng  by  Henr>'  Thurston 


[260] 


GLOSSARY 


261 


Lower  tail-coverts.  The  leathers  overlapping  the 
ba^e  of  the  tail-feathers  beneath. 

Maculate.     Spotted  ;  blotched. 

Malar  region.  The  side  of  the  lower  jaw  behind  the 
huin.v  cijvernig  of  the  mandible;  cheek  region. 

Mammal.  .An  animal  the  female  of  which  suckles 
her  young. 

Mandible.     Either  of  the  jaws  of  a  bird's  bill. 

Mantle.  A  term  used  to  include  tlie  back,  the 
scapulars,  and  the  upper  surface  of  the  wings. 

Marine.  Pertaining  to,  existing  in.  or  formed  by  the 
sea. 

Maritime.  Living  or  found  near  the  sea ;  bordering 
on  the  sea. 

Mat.     The  lining  of  down  in  the  nest  of  a  Duck. 

Maturity.  State  of  being  mature;  havin,g  attained  its 
complete  adult  plumage. 

Maxilla  [plural,  maxillae].  The  upper  jaw; — used 
loo>ely  for  either  jaw. 

Median,   Medial.     .Along  the  middle  line. 

Melanism.  .Xn  unusual  development  of  black  or 
nearly  black  color  in  the  plumage. 

Melanistic.    Affected  with  or  showing  melanism. 

Middle  wing-coverts.  The  coverts  between  the 
greater  and  the  lesser  coverts. 

Migrant.  Any  bird  found  in  certain  districts  during 
migration  only. 

Migratory.  Moving,  either  occasionally  or  regularly, 
from  one  climate  or  region  to  another. 

Milliped,  millipede,  milleped,  millepede.  .\ny  one 
of  tlie  insects  commonly  known  as  thousand  legs. 

Mollusks.  Shellfish  such  as  clams,  oysters,  whelks, 
etc. 

Molt.  The  periodical  shedding  or  casting  of  the 
feathers. 

Monogamous.  Mating  with  only  one  of  the  opposite 
sex.     Compare  polygamous. 

Mustache.  A  conspicuous  stripe  of  color  beneath  the 
eye;  maxillary  line. 

Nail.  The  horny  plate  or  tip  on  tlie  beak  of  Ducks 
and  certain  other  birds. 

Nape.  The  part  of  the  hindneck  back  of  the  occiput; 
the  nucha. 

Nidicolous.     Reared  for  a  time  in  the  nest. 

Nidification.     Nest  building. 

Nocturnal.  Moving  about  at  night;  done  or  occur- 
ring in  the  night. 

Nucha.     Xape. 

Nuchal.     Relating  to  the  nucha  or  nape. 

Nuptial  plumes.  Ornamental  feathers  acquired  at 
the  approach  of  the  breeding  season,  and  molted  at  its 
close. 

Obscure.     Indistinct ;  ill-defined. 

Obsolete.     Indistinct. 

Occipital.     Relating  to  the  occiput. 

Occiput.     The  back  part  of  the  head. 

Ocellated.  Like,  an  eye  or  ocellus ;  having  ocelli,  as 
part'-  of  the  plumage  in  certain  birds. 

Ocellus   [plural,  ocelli].     .An   eye-like  spot  of  color. 

Ochraceous.  Of  the  color  of  other;  resembling 
ocher. 

Olivaceous,  Olive-colored;  of  an  olive-.grecn  color; 
re^rnililiiig    the  olive. 

Omnivorous,    Eating  both  vegetable  and  animal  food. 

Oological.  Pertaining  to  oiilogy,  or  the  study  of 
eggs. 

Opaque,     \\'ithout  gloss  ;  dull ;  not  transparent. 


Order.  A  group  of  families  agreeing  in  certain 
characters. 

Ornithological.     Pertainmg  to  ornithology. 

Ornithologist.     .A  student  of  ornithology. 

Ornithology.  The  tranch  of  zoology  which  treats 
of  birds;  a  treatise  on  the  study  of  birds. 

Pectoral.     Relating  to  the  breast. 

Pelagic.  Oceanic;  living  on  or  at  the  surface  of  the 
sea  far  from  the  coast. 

Pellet.  A  small  ball,  ejected  from  the  mouth  by 
certain  birds,  and  containing  the  non-digestible  portions 
of  their  prey. 

Pendulous.  Hanging  downward  ;  suspended  loosely  ; 
swinging. 

Pensile.  Suspended;  hanging,  as  the  nests  of  certain 
birds. 

Perforate.     Pierced  through. 

Piscivorous.     Feeding  on  fish. 

Plicate.     Folded  like  a  fan. 

Plumage.  The  entire  covering  of  feathers.  See, 
also,  eclipse  plumage,  Juvenal  plumage. 

Plumbeous.  Of  a  deep  bluish-gray  color;  lead- 
colored. 

Plumelets.     Small  plumes. 

Plumicorns.  Ear-tufts;  popularly  called  Ikjtus  or 
ears. 

Polygamous.  Having  more  than  one  mate  at  one 
time.     Compare  monogamous. 

Polygamy.  The  habit  of  having  more  than  one  mate 
at  the  same  time. 

Post-nuptial.     Occurring  after  the  breedin.g  season, 

Postorbital.     Back  of  or  behind  the  eye, 

Precocial,  praecocial.  Covered  with  down  and  able 
to  run  about  when  newly  hatched. 

Predacious.     Preying  on  other  animals. 

Primary.  .Any  one  of  the  quill  feathers  of  the 
pinion. 

Primary  coverts.  The  stiff  coverts  which  overlie  the 
liases  of  the  primaries. 

Produced.     Extended. 

Proximal.  That  end  of  a  feather  or  limb  which  is 
nearest  to  the  point  of  attachment; — the  opposite  of 
distal. 

Psilopasdic.  Young  are  nakeil  when  hatclied,  and 
are  fed  by  parents. 

Ptilopaedic.     Young  are  feathered. 

Pupa  [plural,  pupae].  In  insects  the  stage  between 
the  larva  and  the  adult  stage. 

Pupil,  The  central  spot  or  disk  of  the  eye,  enclosed 
within  the  iris. 

Quill   feathers.     The  priinaries. 

Rectrix   [plural,  rectrices],     A  tail-feather. 

Recurved.  Bent  upward; — used  of  a  bird's  bill. 
Compare  decurved. 

Regurgitation.  The  casting  out  (of  food)  from  the 
sti>mach  and  mouth. 

Remex  [plural  remiges].  .Any  one  of  the  lon.ger 
flight  feathers. 

Resident.  Any  bird  that  stays  in  a  certain  di^^trict 
permanently. 

Reticulate.     Netted  ;  resembling  network. 

Rictal.     Pertaining  to  the  rictus. 

Rictus.  The  edges  and  corner  of  the  mouth;  the 
gape. 

Rufescent.     Tinged  with  red  ;  reddish. 

Rufous.      Brownish-red ;   rust-colored. 


262 


BIRDS    OF   AMERICA 


Scapular  region.  The  longitudinal  area  of  featliers 
overlyiiiR  the  shoulder  blade. 

Scapulars.  The  feathers  of  the  scapular  region; 
shoulders. 

Scutellum  [plural,  scutella].  Ascute  or  plate  or 
shield. 

Seasonal.  Pertaining  to  or  occurring  with  the 
change  of  the  seasons. 

Secondary.  Any  of  the  flight  feathers  of  the  fore- 
arm. 

Secondary  coverts.     The  greater  wing-coverts. 

Secretive.  Inclined  to  keep  out  of  sight;  retiring  to 
a  degree. 

Semi-.    A  prefix  meaning  half,  partly,  or  imperfectly. 

Semi-lunar.     Like  a  half -moon  in  shape. 

Semipalmate.  semipalmated.  Having  the  front  toes 
wel)l)cd  only  half,  or  part,  way  to  their  ends. 

Semi-pensile.     Partly  hanging  or  suspended. 

Serrate,  serrated.  Saw-toothed ;  notched  like  a  saw 
on  the  edge. 

Setaceous.     Bristled ;  bristly. 

Shaft.     The  horny  axis  or  stem  of  a  feather. 

Sibilant.     Hissing;  making  a  hissing  sound. 

Sinuate,  sinuated.  With  the  edge  cut  away  less 
abruptly  than  when  emarginate. 

Skin.  In  zoology,  the  skin  of  a  bird  or  animal  with 
its  coverin.g  of  feathers  or  fur  and  other  external  parts. 
as  the  bill  and  feet. 

Soporific.     Tending  to  cause  sleep. 

Species.  A  group  of  animals  possessing  in  common 
certain  characters  which  distinguish  them  from  other 
similar  groups;  a  distinct  sort  or  kind  of  animal. 

Speculum.  A  mirrorlike  or  brightly  colored  area  on 
the  wing  of  certain  Ducks. 

Stock  species.     Same  as  type  species. 

Sub-basal.     Almost  or  nearly  at  the  base. 

Sub-caudal.     Under  the  tail. 

Sub-marginal.     Nearly  at  the  margin  or  edge. 

Sub-orbital.     Below  the  eye. 

Subspecies.  A  variety  or  race ;  a  form  connected 
with  other  forms  of  a  species  by  individuals  possessing 
intermediate  characters. 

Subterminal.    Almost  at  the  end. 

Subtropical.  Of  or  pertaining  to  the  regions  border- 
ing on  tlie  tropics;  nearly  tropical. 

Subtruncate.     Terminating  abruptly. 

Superciliary.     Above  the  eye. 

Superior.     Upper  ;  topmost ;  uppermost. 


Supraloral.    Above  the  lores. 

Supra-orbital.     Above  the  eye. 

Tail-coverts.  The  feathers  which  cover  the  base  of 
the  tail,  above  and  below. 

Tarsus  [plural,  tarsi].     The  shank  of  a  bird's  leg. 

Taxidermist.  One  who  prepares,  stufTs.  and  mounts 
in  lifelike  form  the  skins  of  animals. 

Terminal.     At  the  end  or  tip. 

Terminology.    The  special  terms  used  in  any  science. 

Terrestrial.  Inhabiting  or  belonging  to  the  ground 
or  land  in  distinction  from  water,  trees,  etc. 

Tertiaries.     The  inner  secondaries. 

Tibia.  The  part  of  the  leg  next  above  the  shank ; 
the  "  drumstick." 

Transverse.     Crosswise. 

Traversed.     Crossed. 

Truncate,   truncated.     Cut  squarely  off. 

Tuberculated.  Having  tubercles,  that  is,  small  knob- 
like prominences  on  some  part  of  an  animal. 

Tumid.     Enlarged  ;  distended  ;  swollen. 

Type.  Typical  form.  A  type  species  is  that  form 
used  as  the  basis  for  the  original  description  of  a  species. 
A  type  genus  is  that  genus  from  which  the  name  of  the 
family  or  subfamily  to  which  it  belongs  is  formed. 

Under  tail-coverts.  The  feathers  covering  the  base 
of  the  tail  below. 

Under  wing-coverts.  The  coverts  of  the  under  sur- 
face of  the  wing. 

Uniform.  Entirely  of  the  same  color  or  shade,  as 
"  uniform  sooty-black." 

Upper  tail-coverts.  The  feathers  overlying  the  base 
of  the  tail  above. 

Vent.     The  anus. 

Vermiculate,  vermiculated.  Marked  with  fine  wavy 
lines  like  worm-tracks. 

Vernacular.  Term  used  in  the  sense  of  common,  as 
opposed  to  scientific. 

Vernal.     Pertaining  to  spring. 

Vertex.  The  crown;  the  central  part  of  the  top  of 
the  head. 

Vinaceous.    Wine-colored. 

Visitor.  Any  bird  found,  regularly  or  irregularly, 
in  a  certain  district  at  certain  seasons  only,  as  spring, 
summer,  autumn,  or  winter;  not  a  permanent  resident. 

Volunteer.     Self-sown. 

Web.     The  series  of  barbs  on  each  side  of  a  feather. 

Zone.  A  broad  band  of  color  completely  encircling 
the  body  of  a  bird. 


BIBLIOGRAPHY 


BOOKS 


American  Ornithologists'  Union 

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[263I 


264 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


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A.  C.  McClurg  &  Co. 
Lange,   Dietrich 

Our  Native  Birds  :     How  to  Protect  them  and  Attract 
them  to  our  Homes. 
Macmillan  Co. 
Lord,  William  Rogers 

Birds  of  Oregon  and  Washington. 
J.  K.  Gill  Company. 
Lottridge,  Silas  A. 

.Animal  .Snapsliots  and  How  Made. 
Familiar  Wild  Animals. 
Henry  Holt  &  Co. 
Lowe,  Percy  R. 

Our  Connnon   Sea-Birds. 
Country   Life,   Ltd. 
McAtee,  Waldo  Lee 

Our  Grosbeaks  and  their  \'alue  to  Agriculture. 
Our   Vanishing   Shorebirds. 

The  Horned  Larks  and  their  Relation  to  .Agriculture. 
U.   S.  Department  of  Agriculture. 
McAtee,  W.  L.,  and  Beal,  F.  E.  L. 

Some  Common  Game,  Aquatic,  and  Rajiacious  Birds 
in  Relation  to  Man. 
U.  S.  Department  of  Agriculture. 


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265 


MacClement,  William  Thomas 

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Mathews,  Schuyler 

Field  Hook  of  Wild  Birds  and  tlit-ir  Music. 
G.  P.  Putnam's  Sons. 
Maynard,  Charles  Johnson 

Eggs  of   North   American    ^.lrd^ 

^DeWoIfe  &  Fiske  Co. 
The  Birds  of  Eastern  North  .Xmcrica. 
Charles  J.   Maynard. 
Merriam.   Florence.      See  Bailey.   Florence  Merriam 
Miller,  Olive  Thorne   (Harriet  Mann  Miller) 
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The    Children's    Book    of    Birds    (includes    the    First 
Book  of  Birds,  and  the  Second  Book  of  Birds). 
True  Bird  Stories. 
Upon  the  Tree-Tops. 
Houghton   Mitflin    Co. 
Minot,  Henry  Davis 

The   Land    Birds   and   Game   Birds   of    New    England. 
Houghton   MifHin  Co. 
Nehrling,  Henry 

Our  Native  Birds  of  Song  and  Beauty. 
G.   Brumder. 
Newton,  Alfred 

Dictionary  of   Birds. 
^Macniillan    Co. 
Oldys,  Henry 

Pheasant  Raising  in  the  United  States. 
U.   S.  Department  of  .Agriculture. 
Parkhurst,  Howard  Elmore 
How  to  Name  the  Birds. 
Song  Birds  and  Waterfowl. 
The  Birds'  Calendar. 
Charles  Scribner's  Sons. 
Pearson,  T.  Gilbert 
Bird  Study  Book. 

Doubleday,  Page  &  Co. 
Stories  of  Bird  Life. 
B.  F.  Johnson. 
Pike,  Oliver  G. 

Bird  Biographies  and  other  Bird  .Sketches. 
Farther  Afield  in  Birdland. 
Scout's   Book  of   Birds. 
Frederick  A.  Stokes  Co. 
Reed,  Charles  K. 

.American  Ornithology. 
Western  Bird  Guide. 
Charles  K.  Reed. 
Reed,  Chester  Albert 
.American  Game  Birds. 

Charles  K.  Reed. 
Birds  of  Eastern  North  America. 
Camera  Studies  of  Wild  Birds  in  their  Homes. 
North  American  Birds'  Eggs. 
Doubleday.  Page  &  Co. 

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J.  B.  Lippincott  Co. 
A     Nomenclature     of     Colors     for     Naturali>ts     and 
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Connecticut  Geological  and  Natural  History  Survey. 
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Chickadee-dee  and  his  Friends. 
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L'pland  Game  Birds. 
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Roof  and  Meadow. 
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Notes  on   New    l-jigland  Birds. 
Houghton   Mifflin   Co. 
Torrey,  Bradford 
A  Rambler's  Lease. 
Birds  in  the  Bush. 
Everyday  Birds. 
Field-Davs  in  California. 
The  Foot-Path  Way. 
Houghton  Mifflin  Co. 
Trafton,  Gilbert  Haven 
Bird  Friends. 

Methods  of  .Attracting  Birds. 
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Van  Dyke,  Theodore  Strong 
Game  Birds  at  Home. 

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Birds  in  their  Relations  to  Man 
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J.  L. 
American    Ornitbologv. 
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Gray  Lady  and  the  Birds. 
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266                                               BIRDS   OF  AMERICA 

PERIODICALS 

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Union.     Quarterly.     Address,   care   of   the   .Academy  .Association.     Monthly.    .Address,  loio  Euclid  .Avenue, 

of  Natural  Sciences,  Philadelphia.  Cleveland.  Ohio. 

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Club.     Bi-monthly.     Address,  Pasadena,  Calif._  Club.     Quarterly.    Address,  Oberlin,  Ohio. 


INDEX 


Abert's  Towliee,  ///,  61 

Acadian  Chickadee,  ///.  213:  Flv- 

catcher,     //,     207;     Owl,     107; 

Sharp-tailed  Sparrow.  ///.  30 
Acanthis   liiiaria   liiuirui.   III.    11; 

A.  I.  roslrata.  12 
Accentor.     Golden-crowned.     ///, 

151 
Accipitcr  coofi'n.  11.  bl :  A.  vclo.v. 

66 
Acorn  Duck.  /.  12') 
Actitis  inacuUiria.  I,  24'.' 
Adams's  Loon.  /,  14 
JEchinol'honts    OLcidciilah.w   I.   3 
Aigialitis    hiaticuUi.    I.    263 ;    .E. 

mcloda.    264;    Ai.    nivosa.    265; 

yE.  scmipabnala.  261 
A'croiiautcs   niclanoh-ucus.   II,   178 
Aithia   cristatcUa.    I.   21  ;   Ai.   pii- 

silla.  I.  22 
Agctaius   qubcrnator   calijornicus. 

11,   249;'  ./.   pha-niccus   bryaiiti, 

249;  A.  p.  caurliius.  249;  A.  p. 

floridaitus.    24<i ;    .!.    p.    fortis. 

249;  A.  p.  nnitrali.'i.  24'i;  A.  p. 

phccniceus,     248;     A.     p.     rich- 

mondi,   249;   A.   p.   scnnyicnsis. 

249;   A.   tricolor.   24" 
Aiken's  Screech  Owl.  //.  Ill 
Ai.v  sponsa.  1.  129 
Ajaia  ajaja,  I.  174 
Alameda  Song  Sparrow,  ///.   152 
Alaska  Hermit  Thrush,  111,  235  ; 

Jay,  //,  226;  Longspun,  ///,  22; 

Pine  Grosbeak,  5 ;   Red-tail,   //. 

72;     Robin.     ///.    239;     Spruce 

Partridge.    //.    15;    Three-toed 

Woodpecker.    14'^';    Wren.    ///. 

195;    Yellow   Warbler.    127 
Alauda  arfcii.iis,  II.  211 
AtaudUicC,  II.  211 
Albatross.     Black-footed.     /.     77; 

Giant,  75  ;  Laysan,  78 
Albatrosses,  /,  75 
Alca  tarda.  I.  29 
Ale  cd  wider.  11.  132 
Alcidcc.  I,   16 
Akvoncs.  11.  125 
Alder  Flycatcher,  //,  20':i 
Aleutian    Sandpiper.    /.    233 ;    Sa- 
vannah      Sparrow.       ///.      25  ; 

Snowflake,   21  ;    Song   Sparrow, 

53;  Wren,  195 
Alewife-bird,  /,  227 
Alice's  Thrusli,   ///.  22'i 
Alle.  /.  31 
.;;/(•  alh:  1.  31 
Allen's     Barred     Owl.     //.     105; 

Ptarmigan.  21 
Alma's  Thrush,  ///,  232 
Alpine    Three-toed     Woodpecker, 

//.    14t) 
Aluc,   pralincola.   II.  98 
Aluconuhc.   II.  "7 


American  .\vocet,  /,  222 ;  Barn 
Owl,  //,  98 ;  Barn  Swallow,  ///, 
86;  Bittern,  /,  181;  Black  Tern, 
66;  Black-tailed  Godwit,  240; 
Bluebird,  ///,  241  ;  Brown 
Creeper,  199;  Coot,  /,  214; 
Creeper,  ///,  199;  Crossbill,  8; 
Crow,  II.  22'^) :  Dabchick,  1,  7; 
Darter,  /,  93;  Dipper,  ///,  172; 
Dunlin,  /,  237;  Eagle,  //,  80; 
Eared  Grebe,  /,  6;  Egret,  180; 
Eider,  146;  Gallinule,  212;  Fla- 
mingo, 171  ;  Golden  Plover. 
257;  Golden-eye.  138;  Gold- 
lincli,  ///,  13;  Goosander,  /, 
110;  Goshawk,  //,  68;  Green 
Sandpiper.  /,  245 ;  Hawfinch, 
///,  2;  Hawk  Owl,  //,  116; 
Kestril,  90 ;  Lanner  or  Lannerel, 
87;  Long-eared  Owl.  100: 
Magpie,  215;  Merganser,  /, 
110;  Merlin,  //,  S'» ;  Night 
Heron.  /.  194;  Nightingale.  ///, 
235;  Ortolan,  //,  241;  Osprey, 
94;  Oyster-catcher,  /,  270; 
Peregrine.  //.  87;  Pine  Gros- 
beak. ///,  3;  Pipit.  16'»;  Poach- 
ard  or  Pochard.  /.  131  ;  Red- 
necked Grebe.  4;  Redstart.  ///. 
167:  Robin.  236;  Rough-legged 
Hawk.  //.  79;  Scaup  Duck.  /. 
135.  136;  Scoter.  149;  Shel- 
drake. nO;__  Siskin.  ///.  16; 
Snipe.  /.  227 ;  Sparrow  Hawk. 
//.  "0;  Sparrow  Owl.  //.  106; 
Swift,  175;  Three-toed  Wood- 
pecker, 149;  Titlark,  ///,  169; 
Turkey,  //,  32:  Water  Hen,  /, 
207;  Water  Ouzel,  ///,  172; 
Whistling  Swan,  /,  164;  White 
Pelican,  101  ;  White-fronted 
Goose.  158  ;  Widgeon,  120  ;  Wild 
Turkey,  //,  32:  Wimbrel,  /, 
252 ;  Wood  Sandpiper.  245 ; 
Wood  Stork.  \7^:  Woodcock. 
225 

Anunodramus  savamiarutn  aus- 
tralis.  Ill,  26;  A.  .^■.  J'uit.icuhlus. 
27  \  A.  s.  savannarum.  27 

Amphispiza  belli.  111.  4'T ;  A.  bili- 
ncala  biliiicata.  48;  A.  b.  deser- 
ticota.  48;  A.  b.  grisca.  48;  A. 
);i"'(7(/i'ii,f/,t  idJir.fc' !'».?.  49;  A.  n. 
ciiii-rca.  4'';  ./.  n.  ncz'adcnsis.  41 

Ana.s-  fiilvi.iuht  fulvinnla.  I.  118; 
A.  f.  luanlln.^;a.  /.  118;  A.  ril- 
bripr.s:  I.  116;  ./.  platyrhyncho.':. 
I.  114 

Anatidcr.  1.  109.  113.  154.  164 

.\natiua-.  /.  113 

.\ncient   Murrelet.   /.   22 

.■\ngel.   Swamj).   ///.  235 

.Xnglican  Tern.  /.  54 

.^nhinga.   /,   ''3 

.■iiihiiiiKi  aiihiniia.  I.  '-'3 

AnhuuiidiC.  I.  '13 

(2671 


Ani.  Groove-billed.   //.    125 

Anna's  Huniniinglnnl,  //.  184 

Anous   stolidus.  "/.    d.s 

A  user    atbif  roils    i/ainbcli.    I,    158 

a:, seres.   I.    109 

.'\nserina\  /,   154 

.-\nt-eating  Woodpecker,  //,   157 

Ai  thonv's  Shrike.  ///.  102;  Tow- 

hce.  61 
Antlnis    nibescens.    III.     16'^;    A. 

sprniiuei.  171 
Antillean     Grassliopper     Sparrow, 

///.  27 
AiilrnstoiiiKS  carnliiiensis.  II.  166; 

A.  vocifcriis  inacronivsta.v.  170; 

.;.  T.  rociferus.  168  ' 
Aplieloeniiia        calif  ornica        cali- 

faniiea,  II,  222:  A.  c.  hvpolciica, 

223:    A.    c.    obscura,   "223;    A. 

eyaiiea.   221:   A.   cyaiwtis.   222; 

.1.     iiisulans.    223:    A.    sieberi 

aricoiuc.   224;   A.    texana,   222; 

A.  zvoodhousci.  221 
Aphri~a  virqata.  I.  2(i8 
.Iphrizidcr,  ■/.  267 
Aquatic   Thrush.  ///.    154:   Wood 

Wagtail.   154 
AqnUa    clirysai'tos,    II,   i^2 
.Iramidcc.  1,   197 
.Irainus  vocifcrus,  1.  201 
Archibutco  fcrru;niieus,  II.  79;  .4. 

latiopus  sancti-johannis.    79 
Archilochus  alc.candri.  II.  183;  A. 

colubris,   182 
Arctic  Bluebird.  ///.  244;  Chipper, 

40;    Diver,   /,    14;    Hawk    Gull. 

33:   Horned  Owl.  //.   114;  Jae- 

gar.  /.   36;   Loon,   14;   Owl,  //, 

115;  Saw-whet  Owl,  106;  Tern, 

/,  62 ;   Three-toed  Woodpecker, 

//,  148;  Towhee,  ///,  60 
Arctonctta  fischeri,  1,  144 
Ardea   herodias  herodias.   I.    184; 

A.   occidentialis.    183 
ArdeidiV.  I.  ISO 
Arenaria     interpres     iiioriiiella.    I. 

268;  A.  mclanocephala.  270 
Arizona   Bob-white.  //.  4;  Cardi- 
nal. ///,  64;  Hooded  Oriole.  //, 

256;    Tav.  224;    lunco.   ///.  47; 

Pyrrhuloxia,   64;    Quail.   //.   f ; 

Screech  Owl.  Ill  ;  Woodpecker. 

14'. 
Arkansas      Goldfinch.      ///.      15; 

Greenback.     15;     Kingbird.     //. 

l'\S 
.irqualelhi      inariliina      cmesi.      I. 

233;  A.  III.  inariliina.  232:  A.  in. 

ptilocneiiiis.  233 
Arrenioiiops  rujiviriialus.  III.  57 
.Ash-colored   Sandpiper.   /.   231 
Asia   flaiiiineiis.    II.    101  ;   A.   zAl- 

sonianiis.   100 
-Assemblyman.  /.  150 
Astrai/aliiiKS    psaltria    liesperophi- 

liis.   III.   16;  A.  p.  psaltria.   15; 


268 


BIRDS    OF    AMERICA 


A.  trisHs  palUdus.  15;  A.  t. 
salicainaiis,  15  ;  A.  t.  tristis,  13 

Asturatricapillus  atfiai/'illus,  II. 
68;  A.  a.  striatulus.  70 

Asyndcsiims  Iczvisi.  II,  158 

Atlantic  Shearwater,  Common.  /, 
81 

Attu  Wren,  ///,  195 

Audubon's  Caracara,  //,  92; 
Hairv  Woodpecker,  140;  Her- 
mit thrush,  ///,  236;  Oriole,  //, 
2':<i:  Warbler,  ///,   130 

Auk,  Great,  /,  29;  Labrador,  18; 
Little,  31;  Puffin,  18;  Razor- 
billed,  29;   Snub-nosed,  21 

Auklet.  Cassin's,  /,  20;  Crested, 
21  ;  Dusky.  21  ;  Knob-billed,  22  ; 
Knob-nosed,  22 ;  Least,  22 ; 
Minute.   22;   Snub-nosed,  21 

Auks.  /.   16 

Aitripanis  flaviccps  fiaviccps.  Ill, 
216 

Autumnal  Warbler,  ///,  136 

Avocet,  /,  222 

Avocets.  /,  221 

Aztec  Jav.  //.  220 

Azure  Bluebird.  ///.  243;  War- 
bler, 132 


B 

Bachman's  Oyster-catcher,  /.  272; 

Sparrow,  ///,  49 
Badger-bird.  /.  241 
Bccoliiphu.':    atricristalus    atricris- 

tatus.    Ill,    208;    B.    n.   .u-nnclti. 

208;   B.   bkolor,  206;   B.  u'oll- 

zvchcri.  208 
Bahama     Mangrove     Cuckoo,     //, 

130;   Red-wing,  249 
Baird's  J  unco,  ///,  47;  Sandpiper, 

/,  235;  Wren.  ///,  192 
Bald  Eagle,  //,  80 ;  Eagle,  North- 
ern, 81  ;  Widgeon,  /,   120 
Bald-crown  (Baldplate),  /,  120 
Bald-head    (Baldplate).   /.    120 
Bald-headed   Brant.  /.   1.56 
Baldpate,    /,    120;    (Surf    Scoter), 

151 
Ball-face,   /,    120 
Baltimore,   Bastard.  //.  256 
Baltimore  Bird  or  Oriole.  //.  258 
Bank  Martin  or  Swallow.  ///,  91 
Bank-bird  (Northern  Phalarope). 

/,  218;    (Red   Phalarope).  217; 

Brown.  217;  White.  218 
Bank-tailed  Pigeon.  //.  38 
Barlow's   Chickadee.   ///,  214 
Barn    Owl.    //.   98;    Pewee.    198; 

Swallow.      ///.      86;      Swallow 

(Cliff  Swallow).  84 
Barn-loft  Swallow.  ///,  86 
Barred-Owl.  //.  103 
Barrow's  Golden-eye.   /.   139 
Bartramia  longicauda.  I.  247 
Bartramian  Sandpiper.  /.  247 
Bartram's  Plover  or  Sandpiper,  /. 

247 
Basket  Bird.  //,  256 
Bass-gull,  /,  60 
Bastard       Baltimore,       //,       256; 

Broad-bill.   /.   137;   Yellow-legs. 

230 
Bat.  Great.  //.  166 
Batchelder's  Woodpecker.  //.  143 


Batter-scoot  (Ruddy  Duck).  /, 
152 

Bay  Coot,  /,  151;  Ducks,  113; 
Goose,  158;  Ibis,  /,  177 

Bav-breast,   ///,   135 

Bay-breasted  Warbler,   ///,    135 

Bay-winged  Bunting  or  Finch,  ///, 
23 

Beach  Goose,  /,  163  ;  Plover  (  Pip- 
ing Plover),  264;  (Sanderling) 
239;   Robin,  231 

Beach-bird  (Sanderling).  /.  23':^: 
(Semipalmated  Plover),  261; 
(Ruddy  Turnstone),  268 

Bean  Bird,  //,   198 

Beautiful  Bunting,  ///,  74 

Bee  Bird  (Arkansas  Kingbird) 
//,  195;  (Kingbird),  //,  190 
(Summer  Tanager),  ///,  81 
Marten  (Kingbird).  //.  190 
(Arkansas  Kingbird),   195 

Beet  Bird,  ///.  13 

Beetle-head.  /.  256 

Belding's  Jav.  //,  223 ;  Sparrow, 
///,  26 

Bell  Bird  (Wood  Thrush),  ///, 
226 

Bell's  Greenlet,  ///,  110;  Sparrow, 
49;  Vireo,  110 

Bell-tongue  Coot,  /,  150 

Belted  Kingfisher  //,  133  ;  Piping 
Plover,  /.  264 

Bcndire's  Screech  Owl,  //,  110; 
Thrasher,  ///,  182 

Bewick's   Wren,   ///,    101 

Bicknell's  Thrush,  ///,  231 

Bi-colored  Red-wing  or  Black- 
bird. //.  249 

Big  Blue  Darter.  //.  67;  Curlew. 
/,  251;  Hoot  Owl,  //,  112;  xMud 
Snipe,  /,  225;  Saw-bill,  110; 
Tell-tale,  242;  Yellow-legs,  242 

Big-eyes.  /,  225 

Big-headed  Snipe,  /,  225 

Bill-willv,  /,  246 

Billy.  Old,  /.  141 

Billy  Owl,  //,  118 

liirch  Partridge,  //,  17;  Warbler, 
///,   120 

Bird  Hawk.  //,  66 

Bird  of  Paradise.  Texan.  //.  190 

Birds  of  Prey.  Order  of.  //.  53^ 

Bischoff's  Song  Sparrow.  ///.  53 

Bishop  Plover.  /,  268 

Bittern,  /,  181  ;  .American,  181  ; 
Cory's,  183;  Cory's  Dwarf,  183; 
Cory's  Least,  183;  Dwarf,  182; 
Green,  l'>2;  Least,  182;  Little, 
182 

Black  Brant,  /,  161  ;  (Brant),  161  ; 
Butter-bill,  148;  Buzzard,  //, 
57;  Chipping  Bird,  ///,  45; 
Coot  (Scoter),  /,  148;  Crake, 
209;  Curlew.  177;  Darter,  93; 
Duck,  116;  Duck,  Spring,  116; 
Duck,  Summer.  116;  Eagle 
(Bald  Eagle),  //,  80;  (Golden 
Eagle),  82;  Grouse  (Hudson- 
ian  Spruce  Partridge),  14; 
Guillemot,  /,  23  ;  Gvrfalcon,  //, 
86;  Hag  or  Hagdon,  /,  83; 
Hawk,  //,  75;  (Peale's  FaL 
con ) ,  89  ;  (Rough-legged 
Hawk),  79;  Jack  (Lesser 
Scaup  Duck),  /,  136;  (Ring- 
necked     Duck),     137;     Mallard, 


llO;  Martin,  ///.  82;  Merlin.  //, 
90;  Ovster-catcher,  /,  272; 
Phoebe.  //,  201  ;  Pigeon  Hawk. 
'»0;  Quail,  10;  Rail, /,  209;  Rosy 
P'inch,  ///,  11;  Scavenger,  //, 
57;  Scoter,  /,  148;  Sea  Coot, 
148;  Skimmer.  73;  Snowbird. 
///.  45;  Surf  Duck.  /.  150; 
Swift.  //.  175;  Tern.  7.  66; 
Turnstone.  270  ;  Vulture.  //.  57  ; 
White-wing.  /,  150;  Witch,  //, 
125;  Woodpecker.  158;  Wood- 
pecker, Great.  154 

Black  and  White  Coot,  /,  146; 
Creeper.  ///.  112;  Driller.  //, 
141;  Duck,  Little,  /,  140;  War- 
bler. ///.  112 

Black  and  Yellow  Warbler.  ///, 
131 

Black-backed  Gull.  /.  41 

Black-bellied,  /.  93 

Black-bellied  Plover.  /,  256; 
Sandpiper,  237 

Black-billed  Cuckoo.  //.  128; 
Loon,  /.  12;  Magpie.  //.  215 

Blackbird,  Bi-colored,  //,  249; 
Brewer's,  265;  Brown-headed, 
243;  Cow,  243;  Crow,  267; 
Marsh,  248 ;  Red-shouldered, 
248;  Red-winged,  248;  Rusty. 
263 ;  .Skunk  or  Skunk-headed, 
//.  241;  Swamp.  248;  Thrush. 
263;  Tri-colored,  249;  White- 
winged.  //,  241;  (Lark  Bunt- 
ing). ///,  76;  Yellow-headed, 
246 

Black-backed  Three-toed  Wood- 
pecker, //.  148 

Black-breast,    /,    256;    Little,    237 

Black-breasted  Plover,  /,  256 ; 
Sandpiper,  233 

Black-chinned  Hummingbird,  //. 
183;  Sparrow,  ///,  45 

Black-crested    Flycatcher,    ///,   97 

Blackburnian  Warbler,  ///,  137 

Black-cap,  Wilson's,   ///,    164 

Black-capped  Chickadee,  ///.  209; 
Greenlet.  108;  Thrush.  177;  Tit. 
209  ;  Titmouse,  209  ;  Vireo,  108  ; 
Warbler.   164 

Black-crested    Titmouse,    ///,    208 

Black-crowned  Night  Heron,  /, 
194 

Black- foot  (Sharp-tailed  Grouse), 
//,  27 

Black-footed  Albatross,  /,   77 

Black-fronted  Warbler,  ///.  131 

Black-head  (Black-headed  Gros- 
beak), ///,  68;  (Scaup  Duck).  /, 
135,  \36;  Ring-billed,  /,  137 

Black-headed  Flycatcher,  //.  201  ; 
Goose.  /.  158;  Grosbeak.  ///, 
68;  Gull  (Laughing  Gull).  /. 
48;  (Bonaparte's  Gull).  52; 
Tav.  //.  220;  Turnstone.  /.  270; 
"Warbler.  ///.   163 

Black-heart  Plover  (Red-backed 
Sandpiper),  /,  237 

Black-lord  (Harris's  Sparrow), 
///,  33 

Black-legged  Peep  (Semipalmated 
Sandpiper),  /,  23fi 

Black-masked  Ground  Warbler, 
///,  159 

Black-neck  (Scaup  Duck),  /.  135, 
136 


INDEX 


269 


P.lai;k-necked  Stilt.  /.  223 
Black-poll,  ///.  1.56 
Black-poll  Warbler,  ///.   136 
Black-shouldered    Kite.    //.   01 
Black-tail     (Hudsonian    Godwit), 
/.  240 

Black-tailed  Godwit.  /.  240 

Black-throat  (  Black-throated  Blue 
Warbler).  ///,  127;  (Black- 
throated  Sparrow),  48;  Bog. 
156;   Green.    142 

Black-throated  Blue  Warbler.  ///. 
127;  Bunting,  75;  Diver.  /.  14; 
Gray  Warbler.  ///.  141  ;  Green 
Warbler,  142;  Ground  Warbler, 
157;  Guillemot.  /.  22;  Loon.  14; 
Murrelet,  22  ;  Sparrow,  ///,  48  ; 
Wax  wing,  95 

Black-toed  Gull,  /,  35 

Black-winged  Redbird.  ///,  79 

Blanding's  Finch,  ///,  61 

Blatherskite.  /,  152 

Blarting  Duck,  /.  118 

Bleating  Duck.  /.  118 

Blind  Snipe,  /.  225 

Bloody-side  \\'arbler.   ///,   133 

Blossom-billed   Coot,   /,    151 

Blue  Brant,  /,  156;  Canary,  ///, 
71;  Coat  (Blue  Jav).  //.  217; 
Corporal.  89;  Crane.  /,  184; 
Crow.  //,  234:  Darter.  118; 
Darter,  Big,  67;  Darter,  Little, 
66;  Egret,  /.  l^'O:  Finch.  ///. 
71;  Flycatcher.  127;  Golden- 
winged  Warbler.  118;  Goose,  /, 
156;  Grosbeak,  ///,  o";  Grouse. 
//,  12;  Gull,  /,  41;  Hawk,  //, 
64 ;  Hen  Hawk,  68 ;  Heron, 
Great,  /,  184;  Heron,  Little, 
190;  Jay,  //.  217;  Kite.  62; 
Peter.  /.  214;  Plover  (Knot). 
231  ;  Pop.  ///.  6Q;  Quail,  //.  7; 
Redbreast,  ///.  241  ;  Robin.  241  ; 
Snow  Goose.  /.  156;  Snowbird. 
///.  45  ;  Shanks,  /.  222 ;  Stock- 
ing, 222;  Warbler.  ///.  132; 
Wavey.  /,  156;  Yellow-backed 
Warbler.  ///.   122 

Blue  and  White  Striped  or  Pied 
Creeper.  ///.   112 

Blue-back  Swallow.  ///.  88 

Blue-bill  (Scaup  Duck),  /.  135, 
136;  (Ruddv  Duck),  152; 
Greater,  135  ;  Marsh,  137 

Blue-billed  Widgeon,  /,   135,  136 

Bluebird,  ///,  241  ;  American,  241  ; 
Arctic,  244 ;  Azure,  243  ;  Cali- 
fornia, 243 ;  Chestnut-backed, 
244;  Eastern,  241;  Indigo,  71; 
Mountain,  244 ;  San  Pedro. 
244;  Western.  243;  Wilson's, 
241 

Blue-cheeked  Jav.  //.  222 

Blue-crested  Jay.  //.  220 

Blue-eared  Jay.  //.  222 

Blue-eyed  Yellow  Warbler.  ///. 
126 

Blue-fronted  Jay,  //,  220 

Blue-gray  Gnatcatchcr,  or  Fly- 
catcher. ///.  223 

Blue-headed  Greenlet,  ///.  107 ; 
Pigeon.  //.  39;  Vireo.  ///.  107; 
Yellow-rumped  Warbler.    131 

Blue-throated  Hummingbird  or 
Casique.  //.  181 

Blue-wing.  /.   123 


Blue-winged  Goose.  /.  156;  Shov- 
eller. 126;  Swamp  Warbler.  ///, 
116;  Teal,  /,  123;  Warbler,  ///, 
116;  Yellow  Warbler,  116 

Bluish-gray  Wren,  ///,  223 

Boatswain  (Parasitic  Jaeger),  /. 
35;  lYellow-billed  Tropic-birdi, 
89 

Boatswain-bird.  /,  SO 

Boat-tailed  Crackle,  //.  270 

Bobolink,  //.  241  ;  Prairie.  ///.  76 

Bob-lincoln,  //,  241 

Bob-white,  //,  2;  Arizona,  4; 
Florida.  4;  Masked.  4;  Texas 
or  Texan.  4 

Bob-white  Quail.  //.  2 

Bob-whites.  //.   1 

Bog  Black-throat.  ///.  156;  Bull, 
/.  181  :  Snipe,  227 

Bog-bird,  /,  225 

Bogsucker    (Woodcock).  /.  225 

Bog-trotter  (Marsh  Hawk),  //,  64 

Bohemian  Waxwing.  ///.  95 

Boinhyrilh  ccdrnnun.  HI.  94;  B. 
(/arnila.   95 

Poinhyrillida:.  III.  93 

Bonaparte's  Gull.  /.  52;  Rosy 
Gull.  52;  Sandpiper.  234 

Boiiasa  umhcUus  sabini,  II,  17; 
B.  u.  toqata.  17;  B.  u.  um- 
bcUoidcs.  17;  B.  u.  timbcllus.  17 

Bonnet  Martvr.  /.   188 

Bonxie.  /.  33 

Boobv,  /,  90;  (Scoter),  148; 
(Ruddv  Duck).  152;  Brown. 
90;  (Tatesbv's.  90;  Yellow- 
footed.  90;  Coot.  152;  Gannet. 
QO 

Bosen-bird,  /,  8f 

Botaunis  Iciuiliqinosus.  I,  181 

Bottle-head,  7,  256 

Bottle-nose,  /,  18 

Box  Coot,  /,  151 

Boys'  Tern,  /,  59 

Brandt's  Cormorant,  /.  99 

Brant.  /.  161  ;  (Blue  Goose).  156; 
Bald-headed.  156;  Black,  161; 
(Brant).  161;  Blue,  156; 
Canada.  158;  Common.  161; 
Eastern,  161  ;  Gray.  158;  Harle- 
quin, 158;  Light-bellied,  161; 
Pied,  158;  Prairie,  158;  Sea, 
150;  Speckled,  158;  Spectacled, 
158;  White,  155;  White-headed 
Bald,   156;  White-bellied,   161 

Brant  Coot,  /,   150;  Goose,   161 

Branta  brniicla  iihiucogastra,  I, 
161  ;  B.  canadensis  canadensis. 
I.  158;  B.  c.  hntchinsi.  I,  160; 
B.  e.  minima.  I,  161  ;  B.  c. 
occidentalis,  I.  161  ;  B.  nigri- 
cans. I,  161 

Brant-bird  (Marbled  Godwit).  /. 
241  ;  (Red-backed  Sandpiper). 
237;  (Ruddv  Turnstone).  268 

Brass-back.  /.  257 

Brass-eved  Whistler,  /,  138 

Break  Horn.  /.  110 

Brent  Goose.  /.  161 

Brewer's  Blackbird.  //,  265  ;  Spar- 
row. ///.  43 

Brewster's  Yellow  Warbler.  ///, 
127;    Warbler.    IIS 

Bridal  Duck.  /.   129 

Bride,  The.  /.   129 


Bridge  Pewee.  //.  198,  Swallow, 
111.  92 

Bridled  Titmouse,  ///,  208 

Bristle-tail,  /,   152 

Brother.  Sleepy.  /.  152 

Broad-bill  (Ruddy  Duck),  /,  152; 
(Scaup  Duck),  135,  136;  Bas- 
tard, 137;  Creek,  136;  Hard- 
headed,  152;  Red-headed,  131; 
River,   136 

Broad-billed  Coot,  /,  148;  Dipper, 
152 

Broad-tailed  Hummingbird,  // 
185 

Broad-winged  Hawk  or  Buzzard, 
//.  76 

Broadv.  /,  12(i 

Bronzed  Lowbird,  //.  246  ;  Crackle, 
268 

Brotherly-love  Vireo,  ///,  104 

Brown  Bank-bird,  /,  217;  Boobv, 
90;  Chippy,  ///,  61;  Coot 
(Scoter),  /,  148;  (Surf  Scoter), 
151;  Cormorant,  99;  Crane, 
200;  Creeper,  ///,  199;  Diving 
Teal,  /,  152;  Duck,  Little.  140; 
Eagle.  //.  82 ;  Hawk.  75  ;  Lark. 
///.  160;  Marlin.  /,  241; 
Mocker.  ///.  179;  Mockingbird 
170;  Oriole.  //.  256;  Pelican.  /, 
104;  Snipe  (Dowitcher).  229; 
Thrasher,  ///,  179;  Thrush. 
170;  Wren,  102 

Brown-back  (Dowitcher),  /,  229; 
(Pectoral  Sandpiper),  233 

Brown-backed  Ovster-catcher,  /. 
270 

Brown-capped  Chickadee.  ///, 
213;  Rosy  Finch,  11 

Brown-headed  Blackbird.  //.  243; 
Nuthatch.  ///.  203;  Oriole.  //. 
243;  Woodpecker,  152 

Brownie,  /.  233 

Brunnich's  Guillemot.  /.  27; 
Murre.  26 

Bryant's  Cactus  Wren,  ///,  1.88; 
Sparrow,   26 

Bubo  z'irginianus  algistus.  II.  115; 
B.  V.  clachistus.  114;  B.  v. 
heterocncmis.  115;  B.  v.  pacifi- 
cus.  114;  B.  V.  pallcscens.  114; 
B.  V.  sxtbareticus.  114;  B.  v. 
saturatus.  114;  B.  v.iiyiiiiiianus. 
112;  B.  V.  -uvpacntlni.  114 

Buffalo  Bird,  //,  243 

Buffalo-headed  Duck,  /.  140 

Buff-breast    (Knot).  /.  231 

Buft'-breasted  Merganser.  /.  110; 
Plover.  231;  Sandpiper.  240; 
Sheldrake.   110 

Buffle-head.  /.  140 

Buffie-headed  Duck,  /,  140 

Bull,  Bog,  /,  181 

Bull  Coot,  /,  150;  Peei)  (.Sander- 
ling),  23O;  (White-rumped 
Sandpiper),  234 

Bull-bat,  //,  172 

Bullet  Hawk  (Pigeon  Hawk),  //. 
89;   (Sharp-skinned  Hawk).  66 

Bullfinch  (Pvrrhuloxia).  ///.  64; 
(Towhee).  58;  Pine.  3 

Bullfinch  Cardinal.  ///.  64 

Bull-head  (Black-breasted  Plov- 
er). /.  256;  (Golden  Plover t. 
257;    (Golden-eve).    138 

Bull-headed   Plover.   /.  256 


'■/^ 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


Bull-iieck  (Canvas-back),  /,  133; 
(Ruddy  Duck),  152 

Bullock's  Oriole,  //,  262 

Bumblebee  Coot,  /,  152;  Duck,  /, 
140 

Bunting,  Bay-winged,  ///,  23 
Beautiful,  74;  Black-throated 
75 ;  Canon,  61  ;  Cow,  //.  243 
Crissal,  ///,  61  ;  Field,  43 
(jreen-tailed,  61  ;  Henslow's,  28 
Indigo  or  Indigo  Painted,  71 
Lark,  76 ;  Lazuli  or  Lazul 
Painted,  72;  McKay's  Snow,  21 
Painted,  73;  Pribilof  Snow,  21 
Savannah,  25  ;  Snow,  19 :  Tow- 
hee,  58;  Tree,  40;  Varied,  74 

Bunty,  /,   137 

Burgomaster  Gull,  /,  41 

Burion,  ///,  7 

Burnt  Goose,  /,  161 

Burrowing  Owls,  //,  118 

Bush  Sparrow  (Field  Sparrow), 
///,  43;   (Song  Sparrow),  50 

Bush-bird  (Towhee),  ///,  58 

Bush-Tit,  ///,  215;  Yellow- 
headed.  216 

Butcher   Birds:    see   Shrikes 

Butco  abicaudatus  scnnctti,  II,  78; 
B.  abbrcviatits.  75 ;  B.  borcalis 
alasccnsis,  72 ;  B.  b.  borealis, 
71;  B.  b.  calurus.  72;  B.  b.  har- 
lani.  72;  B.  b.  kridcri,  72;  B. 
lincatus  allcni.  75  ;  B.  I.  elcgans, 
75  ;  B.  I.  lincatus,  74 ;  B.  platyp- 
tcrus,  76;  B.  sz^'ainsoni,  75 

Bulconidar,  II,  58 

Buloridcs  vircsccns  vircsccns,  I. 
192 

Butter  Duck  (Buffle-head),  /, 
140;  (Ruddv  Duck),  152; 
(Shoveller),   126 

Butter-back,  /,   140 

Butter-ball  (  BufHe-head  ),  /,  140; 
(Ruddy  Duck),  152;  Spoon- 
billed.  152 

Butter-bill,  /,   148 

Butter-billed  Coot,  /.   148 

Butter-bird,   //,   241 

Butterboat-billed  Coot,  /.   151 

Butter-box,  /,  140 

Butterbump,  /,   181 

Butter-nose  (Scoter),  /,  148 
Buzzard,    Black,    //.    57;    Broad- 
winged,     76;      Red-shouldered, 
74;     Red-tailed,     71;     Rough- 
legged,  79 ;  Turkey,  56 
Buzzard  Hawk,  //,  71 


Cabanis's  Woodpecker,  //,  141 

Cabot's  Tern.  /,  59 

Cackling  Goose,  /,  161 

Cactus  Wren,  ///,  186 

Cairn's  Warbler,  ///,   128 

Calamospica   mclanocoyys.   111.   76 

Calaveras  Warbler.  ///,  120 

Calcarius  lapponicu.s  alasccnsis. 
111.  22;  C.  I.  cotoratns.  22;  C.  I. 
lapponicus,  21;  C.  oniatis.  22; 
C.  pictus,  21 

Calico-back,  Calico-bird,  or  Cal- 
ico-jacket, /,  268 

Calidris  Icucophcca,  I,  239 

California  Bluebird,  ///.  243; 
Chickadee,  214;  Condor.  //,  54; 
Creeper,   ///,   200;    Cuckoo,    //, 


130;  Egg-bird.  /,  20 ;  Guillemot, 
26;  Gull,  /,  45;  Horned  Owl, 
//,  114;  Jay,  222;  Marsh  Wren, 
///,  198;  Murre,  /,  26;  Par- 
tridge, //,  8 ;  Pine  Grosbeak, 
///,  5;  Poor-will,  //,  171;  Pur- 
ple Finch,  ///,  6 ;  Pvgmv  Owl, 
//,  120;  Quail,  8;  Screecn  Owl. 
110;  Shrike,  ///.  101  ;  Thrasher. 
183;  Towhee,  61;  Vulture,  //. 
54;  Widgeon,  /,  120;  Wood- 
pecker, //,  157;  Yellow  Warb- 
ler, ///,   127 

Callipcpla  squamata  castanoiias- 
tris.  II,  7  ;  C.  s.  squaiiiala,  7 

Calloo,  /,  141 

Calyplcanna.  11,  184 

Camp  Robber  (Canada  Jay),  //, 
225;   (Clarke's  Nutcracker),  223 

Caiiipcphiliis  principalis.  11.  138 

Cainptorhynchiis  lahradorius.  I, 
143 

Can,  /,  133 

Caitachitcs  canadensis  canacc.  11. 
15;  C.  c.  canadensis.  14;  C.  c. 
osgoodi.   14;  C.  franklini.  16 

Canada  Bird.  ///,  37;  Brant,  /, 
158  ;  Flycatcher,  ///,  166  ;  Goose, 
/,  158;  Goose,  Little,  161; 
Grouse,  //,  14 ;  Jav,  225  ;  Neck- 
lace, ///,  166;  Nuthatch,  203; 
Robin  (Cedar  Waxwing),  94; 
(Robin),  236;  Rutl^ed  Grouse, 
//,  17;  Sparrow  (Tree  Spar- 
row), ///,  40;  (White-throated 
Sparrow),  37;  Spruce  Part- 
ridge, //,  15;  Tanager,  ///,  79: 
Warbler,  166 

Canadian  Grosbeak,  ///.  3 ;  Owl. 
//,  116;  Pine  Grosbeak,  ///,  3 

Canary.  Blue,  ///,  71  ;  Mexican, 
73;  Tarweed,  IS;  Wild  (Gold- 
finch), 13;  (Yellow  Warbler), 
126 

Canary  Bird.  Northern.  ///.  I'l 

Canon  Towliee  or  Bunting.  ///.  61 

Canute's  Sandpiper.  /,  231 

Canvas-back,  /,  133;  (Eider).  /. 
146 

Cape  May  Warbler.  ///.  124 

Cape  Race  or  Racer.  /.  15 

Capriniulfii.  11.   166 

Capriinidgidcc.  II.  166 

Caracaras.  //,  92 

Carau,  /,  201 

Cardinal,  ///,  163 ;  Arizona,  64 ; 
Bullfinch,  64;  Florida,  64; 
Gray,  64  :  Gray-tailed.  64  ;  Ken- 
tucky, 63  ;  Virginia,  63 

Cardinal  Bird,  ///,  63 ;  Grosbeak, 
63 

Cardinalis  cardinalis  canicaudus, 
III,  64 ;  C.  c.  cardinalis,  63  ;  C.  c. 
fioridanus,  64 ;  C.  c.  supcrbus, 
64 

Carduclis  cai-diiclis.  111.  13 

Carolina  Chickadee,  ///,  212; 
Crake,  /,  207;  Dove,  //,  46; 
Nuthatch,  ///,  200;  Goatsucker 
of,  //,  172;  Grebe,  /.  7;  Junco. 
///,  47 ;  Paroquet  or  Parrakeet, 
//,  122;  Rail,  /,  207;  Waxwing, 
///,  94  ;  Wren,  189 
Carolinian  Robin,  ///,  239 
Carpodacus  mcxicanus  dementis. 
III.  8 ;  C.  m.  frontalis.  7  ;  C.  pur- 


pureus    calif  amicus,    6;     C.    p. 

purpureiis,  5 
Carrion     Bird,     //,     225 ;     Crow 

(Black   Vulture),   57;    (Crow), 

229;    (Turkey  Vulture),  56 
Carrion-feeders,  //,  53 
Casique,  Blue-throated,  //,  181 
Caspian    Sea    Tern,    /,    55 ;    Tern, 

Cassin's     Auklet,     /,    20 ;     Purple 

Finch,  ///,  6 ;  Vireo,  108 
Cat     Flvcatcher,     ///,     177;     Owl 

(Great   Horned   Owl),   //,   112; 

(Long-eared   Owl),   100 
Catbird,  ///,   177 
Catesby's  Booby.  /.  90 
Cathartcs  aura  septcntrionalis.  II. 

56 ;  C.  urubu,  57 
Cathartidce,  II.  53 
Catnip  Bird,  ///,   13 
Catoptroplwrus  semipalmatus   in- 

ornatus.   1.   247 ;   C.   s.   semipal- 
matus, 246 
Cat-tail  Wren,  ///,  197 
Cayenne  Tern,  /,  57 
Cedar  Bird,  ///,  94 ;  Partridge,  //, 

14;  Waxwing.  ///.  94 
Centrocerus   urophasianus,   II,   29 
Ccnturus    aurifrons.    II.    161 ;    C. 

carolinus,    160 ;    C.    uropvgialis, 

162 
Cepphi.  I.  10.   16 
Cepfhus  columba.  1.  24;  C.  gr\lle, 

23 
Ccrthia    familiaris   albescens.    HI, 

200 ;  C.  f.  americana,  199 ;  C.  f. 

niontana.  200;  C.  f.  occidentalis, 

200 ;  C.  f.  celotes.  200 
Ccrthiida:  III.   199 
Cerulean  Warbler,  ///,  132 
Ccrylc  alcyon,  II,   133;   C.  ameri- 
cana septcntrionalis,   135 
Chad    (Red-bellied   Woodpecker), 

//.  160 
Clurnipclia  passcrina  pallesccns.  II, 

51  ;  C.  p.  tcrrestris,  50 
Cluctura     pclagica.     II.     175;     C. 

vouxi,   178 
Chaniiva  fasciata  fasciata.  III.  218; 

C.  f.  henshawi.  218;  C.  f.  pluea. 

218  :  C.  f.  rufula.  218 
Chanucdcc.  111.  218 
(Thaparral  Cock,  //.  126 
Chapman's  Nighthawk,  //,  174 
Charadriidcr.  1.  255 
Cbaradrius    dominicus    doininicus, 

I.  257 
Charitonetta  albeola.  I.   140 
Chaser,  Gull,  /,  33 
Chat,  Long-tailed,  ///.  163:  Poly- 
glot, 162:  Yellow,  162;  Yellow- 
breasted,   162 
Chattering  Plover,  /,  259 
Chaulclasmus  strcperus.  I.  118 
Chebec,  //,  210 
Chen  cccridcscens,   I,   156;   C.   by- 

perborcus   livperhoreus.   I.    155; 

C.  h.  rivalis]  I,  156 
Cherrv   Bird    (Cedar  Waxwing), 

1 11, '94;   (White-throated  Spar- 
row), 37 
Chestnut-backed      Bluebird,      ///, 

244;   Chickadee,  214 
Chestnut-bellied  Scaled  Quail,  //, 
7 


INDEX 


Chestnut-collared    Longspur,    ///, 

22 
Chestnut-crowned  Towhee,  ///,  61 
Chestnut-sided   Warbler,   ///,    133 
Chewink,  ///.  5S 
Chiapas   lunco,  ///,  47 
Chickadee.  ///,  20'> ;    Acadian.  213  ; 

Barlow's,     214;      Black-capped. 

209;    Brown-capped,   213;   Cali- 
fornia,     214;      Carolina,      212; 

Chestnut-backed.      214;      Hud- 

sonian.   213;    Labrador   Brown- 
capped.   213;    Long-tailed,   211; 

Mountain,    212;     Xicasio.    214; 

Oregon,   211;    Plumbeous,   212; 

Southern,     212;     Texan.     212; 

Tufted,  206;  Yukon,  211 
Chicken.    Lesser    Prairie.    //.    26; 

Meadow       (Sora),      J.       207; 

Prairie,  //,  24;   Water    (Coot), 

/,  214;  (Florida  Gallinule),  212 
Chicken-bill,  /.  207 
Chicken-billed  Rail,  /.  207 
Chicken  Bird  (Catbird).  ///.  177; 

(Ruddy     Turnstone).     /.     268; 

Hawk  (Cooper's  Hawki,  //,  67; 

(Goshawk),     68;      (Red-tailed 

Hawk),      71  ;       (Sharp-shinned 

Hawk),    66;    Hawk,    Big,    74; 

Hawk,       White-breasted,       71  ; 

Plover,  /,  268 
Chimnev  Swallow,  //,  175;  Swift, 

175 
Chip-bird,  ///,  41  ;  Winter,  40 
Chipper,  Arctic,  ///,  40 
Chipping     Bird,     Black,     ///,    45; 

Chippy,    ///,    41  ;     Brown,    61  ; 

Field,     43;     Meadow     (Seaside 

Sparrow),     30;     Sparrow,     41; 

Snow,  40  ;  Winter,  40 
Clwndcstcs      graiiiinaciis      iiram- 

inacus,   III,   31  :   C.   </.   sIi-hii-tIks, 

33 
Choochkie.  /,  22 
Chordcilcs   Z'irqinianus    chapinani, 

II.  174;  C.  V.  hciii-yi.  174:  C'.  •:■. 

hcsj^L^ris,  174;  C.  :'.  cnriiiniaitus, 

172 
Chow-chow  (Cuckoo).  //.  128 
Chuckatuck.  /.  268 
Chuckle-head.  /,  256 
Chuck-will's-widow.  //.   166 
Churca.  //.  126 
Ckonhc,  I.  173^ 
Cicoiiiida;  I,  173 
CincUdcc,  1II.\72 
Ciiiclns    iiic.ricaniis    unicolor,    III, 

172 
Cinereous  Puffin,  /,  81 
Cinnamon  Teal.  /,  125 
C  ircus  hudsonius,  II.  64 
Cistotlwrus  stclhris.  III.  195 
Clam  Bird,  /.  264 
Claiiiatorcs.  II.  189 
Claiu/ula    clani/ula    ainrriccina.    I. 

138;  C.  island ica.  I.  1.59 
Clape.  //.  163 
Clapper.  Marsh.  /,  204 
Clapper  Rail,  /,  204 
Clarke's   Nutcracker  or  Crow,  //, 

233 
(Tlatter  Goose.  /.  161 
Clav-colored  Sparrow.  ///.  43 
Cliff  Swallow.  ///.  84  ;  Lesser.  85  ; 

Mexican.  85  ;  Swainson's,  85 
Clucking-hen.  /,  20 


Coast  Jav,  //,  220;  Wren-Tit.  ///, 
219 

Cobb.  /.  41 

Coccyyc-s.  II.   125 

Coccvcus  amcricanus  aincricanus, 
I /.'US-  C.  (I.  ofcidriilalis.  130; 
C.  crylhi-oj^hlluilinus.  128;  C. 
iiiinor  iiiayiuiidi.  130;  C.  in. 
minor.   130 

Cock,  Chaparral,  //,  126;  of  the 
Desert,  126;  of  the  Plains,  29; 
of  the  Woods,  154;  Sage,  29 

Cockawee,  /,   141 

Coddy-Moddy,  /,  39 

Coffin-carrier,  /,  41 

Colaj^tcs  aui-atiis  auraltts.  II.  163; 
C.  a.  lutcits.  165;  C.  cafcr  col- 
laris,  165 

Colin,  Ridgway's,  //,  4 

Coliniis  ridi/wayi.  II.  4;  C  vir- 
ginianus  floridanus.  4;  C.  v. 
tcxanus.  4;  C.  v.  virginianus.  2 

Colorado  Turkey.  /.  179 

Coluniba  fasciata  fasciata.   II.   3& 

Cohiinhcc.  II.  37 

Columbian  Sharp-tailed  Grouse. 
//,  28 

Colnmbidir,  II.  37 

Colvmbi.  I.  1 

Cofyinbidir.  I.   1 

Colvmbns  auritus.  I,  5 ;  C.  hol- 
b'a-lli.  I.  4;  C.  ninrirollis  cali- 
f amicus.  I.  6 

Common  Tern.  /.  (lO 

Conipsotlilvf's  amcricana  anteri- 
cana.  III.  122;  C.  a.  iisuac.  123 

Condor,  California.  //.   54 

Conifer  Jay.  //.  219    ■ 

Conjuring  Duck.  /.   140 

Connecticut  Warbler.  ///.  156 

Conurnpsis  carolincnsis.  II.   122 

Cooper's  Hawk.  //,  67 

Coot,  /,  214;  American,  214;  Eav, 
151;  Bell-tongue,  150;  Black, 
148;  Black  and  White.  146; 
Blossom-billed,  151  ;  Boobv, 
152;  Box,  151;  Brant,  15(); 
Broad-billed,  148;  Brown 
(Scoter),  148;  (Surf  Scoter), 
151  ;  Bull,  150;  Bumblebee.  152; 
Butter-billed.  148;  Butterboat- 
billed.  151;  Creek,  152;  Gray 
(Scoter),  148;  (Surf  Scoter), 
151  ;  Heavv-tailed,  152;  Hollow- 
billed  (Scoter),  148;  (Surf 
Scoter),  151;  Horse-head,  151; 
Ivory-billed,  214;  Mud,  214; 
Patch-head,  151  ;  Patch-polled, 
151;  Pied-winged,  150;  Pump- 
kin-blossom, 148;  Quill-tailed, 
152;  Skunk-head,  151;  Sleepv, 
152;  Smutty,  148;  Speckle- 
billed,  151;  Spectacle,  151; 
Surf,  151;  Uncle  Sam.  150; 
Widgeon.   152 

Coot.  Sea  (Scoter).  /.  148;  (Surf 
Scoter),  151;  Black,  148; 
White-winged,  ISO 

Coot-footed    Tringa,    Red.    /.    217 

Coots.  /.  202 

Copper-bill.   /.   148 

Copper-head  (Golden-eve).  /. 
138;  (Yellow-headed"  Black- 
bird). //.  246 

Copper-nose.  /.  !48 

Coppery-tailed   Trogon.   //,   131 


Cordova  Sparrow,  ///,  58 
Cormorant,    /,   96;    Brandt's,   99; 

Brown,      99;       Common,      96; 

Double-crested,  97  ;  Farollon.  /. 

97;    Florida,  97;    Penciled.   99; 

Townsend.     99;      Tufted.     99; 

White-crested.  97 
Cormorants.  /.  95 
Corn   Thief.  //,  217 
Corporal,  Little  Blue,  //,  89 
Correcamio,  //,  126 
Corrida-.  II.  214 
Corz'us     bi-aiiiyrhynchiis     I'ruchv- 

rhynclhi.s-.  I L  22'> :  C.  b.  Iir.spcr'is. 

231  ;     C.    h.    fosiiiKs.    231  ;     C. 

canniius.    231  ;    t  .    rorax    priii- 

(-i/i.r/i'.v,  22^:  C.  t\  siniiatus.  227; 

C.    cryptnlrKcns.    22i<;    C.    o.isi- 

frtigus.  232 
Cory's     Bittern.     /.     183 ;     Dwarf 

Bittern.  183;  Least  Bittern.  183; 

Shearwater,  83 
Cotton  Top,  //.  7 
Cotnrnicops  novcboraccnsis.  I.  208 
Coues's    Cactus    Wren,    ///,    186; 

Flycatcher,  //.  203 
Coulterner.  /.  18 
Courlan   (Limpkin),  /.  201 
Courlans,  /,  197 
Cow   Blackbird,  //,  243  ;   Bunting, 

243;  Snipe,  /,  233 
Cowbird,   //,   243;    Bronzed,   246; 

Dwarf,  245  ;  Red-eyed.  246 
Cowcen.  or  Cowheen.  /.   141 
Cow-frog,  /,   126 
Cow-pen  Bird,  //,  243 
Cracker.   Long-necked,  /,   128 
Crake,    Black,    /,    209;    Carolina, 

207 ;  Yellow,  208 
Crane     (Great    Blue    Heron),    /, 

184;    Blue,    184;    Brown,    200; 

Common  Blue,  184;  Field,  200; 

Great  White,  198;  Sandhill,  200; 

Southern     Sandhill,     200;     Up- 
land, 200  ;  White,  198  ;  Whoop- 
ing, 198 
Cranes,  /,  1''7 
Crape  Warbler,  ///.   157 
Cravat  Goose.  /.  158 
Crcciscus  janwiccnsis,  I,  209 
Creddock   (Ruddy  Turnstone).  /. 

268 
Creek    Broad-bill.    /.    136;    Coot, 

152;  Duck.  118 
Creeper.    American     Brown.     ///. 

199  ;  Black  and  White.  112;  Blue 

and    White     Striped     or     Pied, 

112;     Brown.     199;     California, 

200;  Finch.  122;  Mexican.  200; 

Pine,     148;     Rockv     Alountain. 

200;  Sierra.  200;  Sierra  Madre, 

200;    Tawny,    200;    Tree.    199; 

Yellow-throated,    138 
Creeping  Warbler,  ///.   112 
Creepers.  ///.   199 
Crescent  Stare,  //.  251  ;  .Swallow, 

///.  84 
Crested  Auklet.  /,  21  ;  Flvcatcher, 

//,      196;      Redbird,      ///,      63; 

Stariki,    /.    21  ;    Titmouse.    ///. 

206;  Tointit.  206 
Crimson-billed  Tern.  /.  62 
Crimson-fronted  Finch.  ///.  7 
Crissal  Bunting.  ///,  61  ;  Thrasher, 

185 
Crocker,  /,  161 


272 


BIRDS    OF    AMERICA 


Crooked-bill,  /,  111 

Crooked-billed  Marlin,  /,  252; 
Snipe,  2il 

Crossbill,  ///,  8;  American,  8; 
European.  10;  Mexican,  10; 
Red,  8;  White-winged,   10 

Croiophaqa  siilcirostris.  11,    125 

Crow.  //.  22*^);  American.  229 
Blue,  234;  Carrion  (Black 
Vulture),  57;  (Crow),  229 
(Turkey  Vulture),  56;  Clarke's 
223;  Fish,  232;  Florida,  231 
Northwestern,  231  ;  Pond,  / 
214;  Rain,  //,  128;  Rusty.  263 
Sea  (Coot),  /,  214;  (Oyster- 
catcher),  270;  Storm,  //,  128 
Western.  231 

Crow  Blackbird,  //,  267;  Duck 
(Coot),  /,  214;  (Double- 
crested  Cormorant),  97;  Wood- 
pecker, //,   158 

Crow-bill   (Coot),  /.  214 

Crows,  //.  214 

Crying-bird.  /.  201 

CryptoqJaux  acadica  acadica,  II. 
i07;^  C.  a.  scotcca.  108;  C. 
funcra  richardsoni,  106 

Cub-head,  /,  138 

Cuckold,  //,  243 

Cuckoo.  Bahama  Mangrove.  //, 
130;  Black-billed,  128;  Cali- 
fornia. 130;  Ground,  126;  Man- 
grove. 130;  Maynard's.  130; 
Western.  130;  Yellow-billed, 
128 

Cuckoo  Family,  //,  125 

Cuckoos,  Order  of.  //,  125 

Cucu,  /,  242;   Small,  242 

CucuU.  II.   125 

CucuUdic.  II.  125 

Cur.  /,  138 

Curlew,  Big,  /,  251;  Black.  177; 
Eskimo.  254;  Hen.  251;  Hud- 
sonian.  252 ;  Jack.  252 ;  Little, 
254;  Long-billed,  251;  Pied- 
winged,  246;  Pink,  174;  Red. 
241;  Short-billed.  252;  Sickle- 
billed,  251  ;  Spanish,  175  ;  Spike- 
billed,  241;  Stone  (White  Ibis). 
175;   (Willet),  246;  White,  175 

Curve-billed  Thrasher,  ///,  182 

Cutwater,   /,   li 

Cvaiwcrplnihis  cvauoccphatus.  II. 
'234 

Cvanocitta  cristata  cristata.  II. 
"217;  C.  c.  fiorincola.  210;  C. 
stcUari  anncctcns.  220;  C.  s. 
carhoitaceo.  220 ;  C.  s.  carloHir. 
220;  C.  s.  diadcmata.  220;  C.  s. 
frontalis.  220;  C.  s.  stcllcri.  219 

Cyanolcrinus  clcincncitr.  II.  LSI 

C\'c!nincc,  I,  164 

C'ypscU.  II.   174 

Cyp.'fchidcs  nigcr  borcalis.  II.  175 

Cvrtonv.v  moittccuiitir  mcarnsi.  II. 
"10 


Dabchick,     /,     7;     American,     7; 

Pied-billed,  7 
Ditftla  acuta.  I.  128 
Dapper      (Buffle-head).     /.     140; 

(Ruddy  Duck).   152 
Dark-bodied  Shearwater.  /.  83 
Darter,     /.     93 ;     American,     93 ; 

Big    Blue.    //,    67;     Blue.    68; 


Black.  /,  93;  Black-bellied,  93; 
Little  Blue,  //,  66;  White-bel- 
lied, /,  93 

Darters.  /,  93 

Daub  Duck,  /,  152 

Deaf  Duck,  /,  152 

Demoiselle,  /,  189 

Dcndragapus  obscurus  fuligino- 
.•:us,  II,  13;  D.  o.  obscurus,  12; 
D.  0.  richardsoni.  13;  D.  o. 
sierra,  13 

Dcndroica  ccstiva  icstiva.  III.  126; 
D.  IT.  brczvstcri.  127;  D.  cc. 
rubiginosa,  127 ;  D.  ce.  sonorana. 
127;  D.  audiiboni  auduboni, 
130;  D.  a.  nigrifrons.  131;  D. 
cirrulcsccns  cccrulcsccns.  127 ; 
D.  c.  cairnsi.  128 ;  D.  castanca. 
135;  D.  ccrulca.  132;  D.  coro- 
nata.  128;  D.  discolor.  150;  D. 
doininica  albilora.  139;  £).  d. 
dominica,  138;  D.  fitsca.  137; 
D.  gracicc.  140;  D.  kirtlandi. 
146;  D.  magnolia.  127;  D. 
nigrcsccns.  141  ;  D.  occidcntalis, 
l46;  D.  pahnaruin  hypochrysca, 
150 ;  D.  p.  paUnarum,  149";  D. 
pcnsylvanica.  133 ;  D.  striata, 
136;  D.  tigrina,  124;  D.  tozvn- 
scndi,  144;  D.  vigorsi.  148;  D. 
vircns,  142 

Desert  Black-throat,  ///,  48; 
Cock  of  the,  //,  126;  Song 
Sparrow.  ///.  52;  Sparrow.  48; 
Sparrow  Hawk,  //,  91 

Devil  Downhead,  ///,  200 

Devil-diver  (Horned  Grebe),  /, 
5;   (Pied-billed  Grebe),  7 

Dickcissel,  ///,  75 

Dickey  (Ruddy  Duck),  /,  152 

Didapper,  or  Diedapper.  /.  7 

Dinky,  /,  152 

Dinmcdca  inunulabilis.  I.  78;  D. 
nigripcs,  77 

DiomcdcidiT,  I.  75 

Dipper  (Buffle-head),  /.  140; 
(Horned  Grebe).  5;  (Pied- 
billed  Grebe).  7;  (Ruddy 
Duck).  152;  Broad-billed.  152; 
Mud,  152;  Robin,  140 

Dipper  Duck,  /,   140 

Dippers,  ///,  172 

Dip-tail   (Ruddy  Duck),  /.  152 

Diurnal  Birds  of  Prey.  //,  53 

Divedapper,  /.  7 

Diver.  /.  152;  Arctic.  14;  Black- 
throated,  14;  Dun  (Merganser), 
110;  (Ruddy  Duck),  152; 
Eared,  6 ;  Devil  ( Horned 
Grebe),  5;  (Pied-billed  Grebe), 
7;  Great  Northern,  12;  Hell 
(Buffle-head),  140;  (Horned 
Grebe),  5;  (Loon).  12;  (Pied- 
billed  Grebe),  7;  Holbceirs,  4; 
Imber.  12;  Pacific.  14;  Pink- 
eved.  5 ;  Red-throated.  15 ; 
Ruddy,  152;  Saw-bill,  112 

Diving  Birds,  Order  of,  /,  1 

Diving  Ducks,  /,  113;  Teal, 
Brown,  152 

Doe-bird  (Eskimo  Curlew),  /, 
254;  (Marbled  Godwit),  241; 
Smaller,  240 

Dolichonyx   orycivorus,   II.  241 

Domestic  Sparrow,  ///,  17 

Dominican  Yellow-throat.  ///.  138 


Dopper  (Buffle-head),  /,  140; 
(Ruddy  Duck),  152 

Dotterel,  Ringed,  /.  263 ;  Sea.  268 

Double-crested    Cormorant.    /,   97 

Dough-bird  (Eskimo  Curlew),  /. 
254;  (Marbled  Godwit).  241; 
Smaller.  240 

Dove,  Carolina,  //,  46 ;  Ground,  //, 
50;  Inca.  52;  Mexican  Ground, 
51;  Mourning,  46;  Mourning 
(Ground  Dove),  50;  Rain 
(Cuckoo),  128;  Scaled,  52;  Sea 
(Dovekie),  /,  31;  Singing,  //, 
49 ;  Spotted  Greenland,  /,  23 ; 
Turtle,  //,  46;  White-winged, 
49 

Dove  Hawk,  //,  68 

Dovekie,  /,  31 

Doves,  //,  37 

Dowitcher,  /,  229 

Downy,  Texan,  //,  144 

Downy  Woodpecker,  //,  141 

Drake,  /,  146 

Dresser's  Eider,  /,  146 

Driller,   Black  and  White,  //,   141 

Driver,  /,  229;  Stake,  181 

Drum,  Mire,  /,  181 

Drumming  Grouse  or  Pheasant, 
//,  17 

Drxobalcs  ari:oncc.  II.  146;  D. 
borcalis.  143;  D.  nuttalli.  145; 
D.  pubcsccns  gairdneri,  142 ;  D. 
p.  homorus,  143;  D.  p.  incdi- 
anucs,  141;  D.  p.  ncIso)ii,  143; 
D.  p.  pubcsccns,  142;  D.  p. 
turati,  l43 ;  D.  scalaris  bairdi. 
144;  D.  s.  lusasanus.  145;  D.  v. 
auduboni.  140;  D.  v.  harrisi, 
141  ;  D.  V.  hyloscopus,  140;  D.v. 
Icuconiclas,  140;  D.  v.  monti- 
cola,  140;  D.  v.  picoideus,  141; 
D.  V.  tcrrccnovcc.  140;  D.  v.  vil- 
losus,  140 

Ducal  Tern,  /.  59 

Duck,  Acorn,  /,  129;  American 
Scaup,  135,  136;  Black,  116; 
Black  Surf,  150;  Blarting,  118; 
Bleating,  118;  Bridal,  129;  Buf- 
falo-headed, 140;  Buffle- 
headed,  140;  Bumblebee,  140; 
Butter  (Buffle-head),  140; 
(Ruddy  Duck).  152;  (Shovel- 
ler). 126;  Common  Wild,  114; 
Conjuring,  140;  Creek,  118; 
Crow  (Coot),  214;  (Double- 
crested  Cormorant),  97;  Daub, 
152;  Deaf,  152;  Dipper,  140; 
Dumpling,  152;  Dusky,  116; 
Eider,  146;  English,  114;  Fan- 
crested,  112;  Fish  or  Fishing 
(Merganser),  110;  (Red- 
breasted  Merganser),  111; 
Flock.  135,  136;  Florida,  118; 
P'ool,  152;  French,  114;  Golden- 
eyed,  138:  Grav  (Gadvvall), 
118;  (Mallard),  114;  (PintaiD, 
128;  Greater  Scaup,  135; 
Guinea,  12;  Harlequin,  142; 
Isle  of  Shoals,  146;  Labrador, 
143;  Lesser  Scaup,  136:  Little 
Black  and  White,  140;  Little 
Brown,  140:  Little  Fish  or 
Fishing,  112:  Little  Sawbill, 
112;  Long-tailed,  141;  Mottled, 
118:  Mountain.  142;  Mussel, 
135,    136;    Painted,    142;    Pied, 


INDEX 


273 


143;  Pied  Gray.  12S;  Raft 
(Redhead),         131;  (Scaup 

Duck),  135,  136;  Red-Ie!?ged, 
116:  Red-headed  Raft  Duck. 
131;  Rmg-billed,  137;  Ring- 
necked,  137;  Ring-necked 
Scaup,  137;  Rock,  142;  Round- 
crested,  112;  Ruddy,  152; 
Scaup.  135;  Sea,  146;  Skunk, 
143;  Sleepy,  152;  Smoking,  120; 
Spirit  (Huffle-head),  140; 
Golden-eye,  138;  Spoonbill,  126; 
Spring  Black,  116;  Squani,  146; 
Squeaking,  141;  Stock,  114; 
Summer,  129 ;  Summer  Black, 
116;  Surf,  151;  Swallow-tailed, 
141;  Tree  (Hooded  Mergan- 
ser), 112;  (Wood  Duck),  129; 
Velvet,  150;  Wheat,  120; 
Whistle,  138;  White-winged 
Surf,  150;  Winter  (Old- 
squaw),  141;  (Pintail),  128; 
Wood,  129;  (Hooded  Mergan- 
ser), 112 

Duck  Hawk.  //,  S7 ;  Snipe,  /,  246 

Ducks,  /,   113 

Ducklet.   Little.  //.   109 

Dumb-bird.  /,   152 

Dumclclla  caroHncusis.  III.   Ml 

Dumpling  Duck.  /.  152 

Dun  Diver  (Merganser).  /.  110; 
(Ruddy  Duck),   152 

Dun-bird,  /,  152 

Dung  Hunter,  /,  35 

Dunh'n,  American,  /,  lil ;  Red- 
backed,  2il 

Duskv  Auklet  /.  21;  Duck.  116; 
Flycatcher,  //,  108;  Grouse,  12; 
Horned  Owl,  114;  Mallard,  i, 
116;  Poor-will,  //,  171;  War- 
bler, ///,   121 

Dwarf  Bittern,  /,  182;  Bittern. 
Cory's,  183;  Cowbird,  //,  245; 
Hermit  Thrush,  ///,  235; 
Horned  Owl,  //.  114;  Screech 
Owl.  //.  Ill 


Eagle,  American.  //,  ,80  ;  Bald.  80  ; 
Black  (Bald  Eagle),  80; 
(Golden  Eagle),  82;  Brown.  82  ; 
Fishing,  94;  Golden.  82;  Gray 
(Bald  Eagle),  80;-  (Golden 
Eagle),  82;  Gray  Sea,  80; 
Mountain,  82;  Northern  Bald, 
81;  Ring-tailed,  82;  Washing- 
ton, 80;  White-headed.  8() ; 
Wliite-headed  Sea.  80 

Eagles,  //,  58 

Eared  Diver,  /,  6 ;   Grebe,  6 

Eastern  Bluebird,  ///.  241  ;  Brant, 
1,  161  ;  Junco,  ///,  45  ;  Pinnated 
Grouse,  //.  2();  Red-tail.  //.  71  ; 
Turkey.  //,  }i2 ;  White-wing,  /, 
150 

Eave  Swallow,  ///.  84 ;  ( Tree 
Swallow),  88 

Ectof'islcs  inif/rntoriiis.  II,  30 

Egg-bird  (Briinnich's  Murre),  /, 
27;  (Sooty  Tern),  68;  Califor- 
nia, 26 

Egret,  /.  186;  American.  186; 
Blue  (Little  Blue  Heron).  190; 
Common,  188;  Great  White, 
186;  Greater,  186;  Lesser,  188; 


Little,  188;  Little  White,  188; 
Snowy,  188;  White.  186 

lii/rctta  candidissima  caiididissiiiia. 
'l,   188 

Egyptian  Tern,  /,  54 

Eider,  /,  146;  American.  146; 
Common,  146;  Dresser's,  146; 
I-^ischer's,  144;  King,  147; 
Northern,   145;   Spectacled,   144 

Eider  Duck,  /,   146 

llUinnidcs  forficatus.  II.  60 

Elanus  Icucurus,  II.  61 

Elf  Owl,   //,   120 

Ember  (joose,  /,  12 

F2mperor  Goose,  /,  163 

ninpidona.v  difl^i-HLs  diffirills.  11. 
206;  /;'.  Jlarr.rntris.  206;  E. 
iiiiniiniis.  210;  /;.  trailti  al- 
nontni.  20'»;  /:.  t.  trailli.  208; 
E.  vircsccns,  207 

English  Duck.  /,  114;  Pheasant, 
//.  35,  36;  Robin  (Baltimore 
Oriole),  258;  Snipe.  /,  227: 
Sparrow,  ///,  17 

Ercunctcs  inaiiri.  I,  23'^:  E.  pusil- 
lus.  238 

Erisinatura  iaiitaiccn.iis.  I.  152 

Ermine  Owl.  //,   115 

Eskimo  Curlew,  /.  254 

/fH./<-»c.9  fuhjcns.  II.  180 

Enl^Iuif/us  caroUiin.i.  II.  263;  E. 
cyanoccf>haIus,  265 

European  Crossbill,  ///,  10;  Gold- 
finch, 13:  Hawk  Owl,  //,  117; 
House  Sparrow,  ///,  17;  Sky- 
lark, //,  211;  Widgeon,  /,  119 

Evening  Grosbeak,  ///.  2 

Everglade  Kite.  //,  63 

Evergreen  Warbler,  ///,   142 

Everybody's  Darling.  ///.  50 


Falco  i(di(iiiharius  ci>hiiulmrius.  II. 

89;   E.   c.  richardsoni.  90;   F.  c. 

siichlcyi.  IX) ;  F.  islaiidns.  85  :  /-. 

j/i<'.riV(u;».v.    87 :    F.    /ii-ri-yriiiKi 

ciiuitKiii.  87 ;  F.  p.  pcali.  89';  F.  p. 

percgrinus.     88;     F.     rusticolus 

fiyrfako,  85  ;  F.  r.  ohsolctiis.  86 ; 

/•".    r.    nislicolu.'!,    85 ;    F.    spar- 

■:'critis     sparvcrius.     90 ;     F.     s. 

fraulus,  91  ;  F.  s.  phalcena,  91 
F'alcon,   Peal's,  //,  89 ;   Peregrine, 

87;     Pigeon,    80;     Prairie,    87; 

Kusfv-crowned.  90 ;  Wandering, 

i<7 
Falconcs,   11.   53 
Falrniiida-.  II.  84,  92 
Falconijur,  11,  84 
Falcons,  //,  84 
Fall  Snipe,  /,  237 
Fan-crested  Duck,  /,  112 
Farallon   Bird,  /,  26;   Cormorant, 

97 
Fat-bird,  /,  233 
Ferruginous       Finch,       ///,       55  ; 

Rough-leg,  //,  70 
Field    Bird     (Golden    Plover).    /, 

257;    Bunting.   ///.   43;   Chippy. 

43  ;  Crane.  /.  200 ;  Lark,  Old.  /"/. 

251  ;    Lark   of    the    West,    252; 

Marlin,  /,  240;  Martin.  //,  192; 

Plover  (Gokien  Plover),  /.  257; 

Plover    (Upland    Plover),   247; 

I'loyer,    Whistling,    256;    Spar- 


row,  ///,  43;    (Savannah   Spar- 
row, )  25 
Fieldfare,  ///,  2M< 
Finch,  Bay-winged.  ///,  23;  Black 
Rosy.  11;   Blanding's.  61;   Blue,. 
71;     lirown-capped     Rosy,     11; 
California    Purple,    6;    Cassin's. 
Purple,  6;   Crimson-fronted,  7: 
h'erruginous,     55 ;      Foxy,     55 ; 
Grass,  ii ;  Gray-crowned  Rosy. 
10;  Green,  57;  Hepburn's  Rosy, 
11  ;  House,  7;  Indigo,  71  ;  Lark. 
31;  Lincoln's,  53;  Nelson's,  30; 
F'ainted,   7i\    Pine,   16;    Purple, 
5  ;     Rosy,     10 ;     San     Clement! 
House,   8;    Seaside,  30;    South- 
ern Pine,  49;  Swamp,  50:  This- 
tle, 13 
Finch  Creeper,  ///,  122 
Finches,  ///,  1 

F^iery-crowned  Wren,  ///,  220 
Fire-bird    (Baltimore  Oriole),   //, 
258;   (Scarlet  Tanager).  ///,  70 
Fire-brand,  ///,  137 
Fire-tail,  ///,  167 
Fischer's  Eider,  /.  144 
Fish  Crow.  //.  232;   Duck    (Mer- 
ganser).   /.    110;    (Red-lireasted 
Merganser).    Ill;   Duck.  Little. 
112;  Hawks.  //.  03 
Fisher's   Seaside  Sjjarrow.  ///,  31 
Fishing  Eagle,  //,  94  ;  Duck  ( Mer- 
ganser).   /.    110:    Duck    (Red- 
breasted        Merganser),        111; 
Duck,  Little,  112 
Fizzy,  /,  148 
Flag  Bird,  //.  155 
Flame-crest.   //,  220 
Flamingo.  /.  171  :  .\merican.  171  ; 

Scarlet,  171 
Flammulated  Screech  Owl,  //.  Ill 
Flat-billed   Phalarope,  /.  217 
Flicker.  //.  163:  Northern,  1(.5 
Floating  Fowl,  /,  135.  136 
Flock  Duck,  /,  135.  136 
Florida  Barred  Owl.  //.  105  :  Blue 
Jay,    219;    Bob-white,    4;    Bur- 
rowing Owl,  110;  Cardinal.  ///, 
64;  Cormorant.  /,  07;  Crow,  //, 
231  ;    Duck,    /,    118:    Gallinule, 
212;  Crackle,  //,  270;  Heron,  /, 
183;    Jay,   //,   221  ;■  Nighthawk, 
174;  Red-shouldered  Hawk,  75: 
Red-wing,    249 ;     Screech    Owl, 
110;    Towhee,   ///,   59;   Turkey, 
//,     31  ;     White-breasted     Nut- 
hatch,    ///,    202;     Wren,     191; 
Yellow-throat,  161 
Florida  cicrulca.  1,  100 
Flusterer,  /,  214 

Flycatcher,  Acadian,  //,  207 ; 
Alder,  200;  Black-headed,  201; 
Black-crested,  ///.  97;  Black- 
throated  Green.  142;  Blue.  127: 
Canada,  166;  Cat.  177;  Coues's, 
//,  203;  Crested.  196;  Dusky. 
198;  Golden-crowned  (Chest- 
nut-sided Warbler).  ///.  133; 
(Myrtle  Warbler).  128;  Golden- 
winged.  118:  Great-creasted.  //, 
106;  Green,  207;  Green-cre'sted. 
207;  Least,  210:  Olive-sided, 
202;  Pewee,  203;  Pewit,  108; 
Red-start,  ///,  167;  .Scissor- 
tailed,  //,  100;  Shining  Crested. 
///.  <I7;    Small    Bhic-grav.   223; 


274 

Swallow-tailed,  //.  190 ;  Sylvan, 
///,  223;  Traill's,  //,  208; 
Western,  206;  Wilson's,  ///, 
164;  Yellow-hellied,  //.  206 

Flycatchers,  Silky.  ///,  93.  97  ;  Ty- 
rant. //,  189 

Flysnapper,  Shining,  ///,  97 

Fly-up-the-creek.  /,  192 

Fool  Duck,  /,  152;  Hen:  see 
Grouse  and  Quail;  Quail,  //,  10 

Forbush's  Sparow,  ///,  54 

Fork-tailed  Gull,  /.  53;  Kite,  //, 
60;  Petrel.  /.  86;  Petrel,  Com- 
mon. 85 ;  Petrel,  Leach's,  85 ; 
Swallow.  ///,  86 

Forster's  Tern.  /.  56 

Four-toed  Ployer,  /,  256 

Fowl,  Floating,  /,  135,  13(i 

Fox  Sparrow.  ///.  55 

Fox-colored  Sparrow,  ///.  55 ; 
Thrush,  179 

Fox-tail.  ///,  55 

Foxy  Finch,  ///,  55 

Franklin's  Grouse,  //,  16;  Gull,  /. 
SO;  Rosy  Gull.  /,  50;  Spruce 
Partridge,  //,  16 

Franks'  Guillemot.  /,  27 

Fratcicula  arctica  arctica.  I.   18 

Freckled  Sandpiper.  /.  231 

Frcqala  aquila.  I.  107 

Frcgalidir.  I.  106 

French  Duck,  /,  114;  Mocking- 
bird (Brown  Thrasher),  ///. 
179;    (Loggerhead    Shrike),   99 

Fresh-water  Marsh  Hen  (King 
Rail),  /,  203;  (Virginia  Rail), 
205 

Fresh-water  Marsh  Wren,  ///,  195 

Frigate  Bird,  /,   107 

Fr'niqiUidiT,  III.  1 

Frog  Hawk,  //,  64 

Frost  Snipe,  /.  230 

Frost-bird.  /.  257 

Frosted  Poor-will.  //,   171 

Frowl.  /.  25 

Fulica  anicricann.  I.  214 

Fuliguliiirr,  1.  113 

Fulmar.  /.  80 ;  Petrel.  /,  80 
Fulmars.  /.  80 

Fulmarus  glaclalis  ghcialis.  I.  80 
Fuscous  Towhee.  ///.  61 
Fute,  /,  254 


Gadwall,  /.  118 

Gairdner's  Woodpecker.  //,  142 

Gallinaceous   Birds.   Order  of,  //, 

1 
Gallinago  drlicala.  I.  227 
Callina;  11.  1 
Gallinula  galcata.  1.  212 
Gallinule.  American.  /.  212;  Com- 
mon. 212;  Florida,  212;  Purple, 

210 
Gallinules.  /,  202 
Gambel's  Quail.  //.  9;  Shrike.  ///, 

101;  Sparrow,  36;  Valley  Quail. 

11.9 
Gamin,  ///.  17 
Gannet.  /,  91;  (Wood  Ibis).  178; 

Booby,  90 ;  Common,  91  ;  White, 

91 
Gannets,  /.  W 
Gardenian  Heron.  /.  194 


BIRDS    OF    AMERICA 


Garefowl,  /,  29 

Garoo.  /,  198 

Garrot,   /,   138;   Rocky   Mountain, 

139 
Cavia    adinas't,    I,    14;    (/.   arctica. 
14;    G.    iinmcr.    12;    G.   pacifica, 
14;  G.  stclhla,  14 
Gaviidar.  I,  10 
Geese,  /,  154 

Gclochclidon  nilotica.  1.  54 
Gcococcy.v  calif ornianus.  II.  126 
Gcothlvl^is     trichas     arizcla.     111. 
161  ;"  G.    t.    ignota.    161  ;    (7.    (. 
occidentalis,   161  ;  G.  I.  sinousa, 
161  ;  G.  t.  trichas.  15'* 
Geylle,  /.  23 
Giant  Albatross,  /,  75 
Gila  Woodpecker.  //.   163 
Glaticidium    gnoma    calif ornicnm. 

II.  120;  G.  g.  gnoma.  ll" 
Glaucous  Gull.  /,  41 
Glossy   Ibis.  /,   177;  White-faced, 

177' 
Gnatcatcher.   Blue-Gray.  ///,  223  ; 

Western,   224 
Gnatcatchers,  ///,  219 
Gnome  Owl,  //,  119 
Goard  Head,  /,  178 
Goatsucker,  Long-winged.  //.  172; 

of  Carolina.  172 
Goatsuckers,  //,  166 
Godwit,  American  Black-tailed,  J. 
240;    Black-tailed,    240;    Great, 
241  ;  Great  Marbled.  241  ;  Hud- 
sonian.     240;      Marbled.     241; 
Pacific,  240  ;  Red-breasted.  240  ; 
Tell-tale,  242 
Goggle-nose,  /,  151 
Gold-crest,  ///,  220 
Golden  Eagle.  //,  82;  Oriole.  258; 
Owl,    98;     Pileolated    Warbler, 
///,  166;  Ployer,  /,  257;  Robin. 
//,    258;    Swamp    Warbler,   ///. 
113;     Warbler      (Prothonotary 
Warbler),  113;   (Yellow  Warb- 
ler), 126 
Golden-back    (Golden   Ployer),   /, 

257 
Golden-crested  Kinglet,  ///,  220 
Golden-crown       (Golden-crowned 

Sparrow),  ///,  36 
Golden-crowned      Accentor.      ///. 
151  ;  Flycatcher  (Chestnut-sided 
Warbler),   133;    (Myrtle  Warb- 
ler),   128;    Kinglet.    220;    Spar- 
row. 36;  Thrush.  151;  Wagtail, 
151;   Warbler,   128;   Wren,   220 
Golden-eye,     /,     138;     American, 
138;     Barrow's.     139;     Rocky 
Mountain.  139 
Golden-eyed  Duck.  /,  138 
Golden-front,  //.   161 
Golden-fronted    Woodpecker,    //, 

161 
Golden-winged      Flycatcher      ///. 
118;      Swamp     Warbler.      118; 
Warbler.   118;  Woodpecker,  //, 
163 
Goldfinch,  ///,  13;  American,   13; 
Arkansas,     15;     European,     13; 
Pale,  15;  Willow.  15 
Gold-Tit,   ///,   216 
Good   God    Woodpecker,    //,    154 
Goony,  /,  77 

Goosander,     American,     /,     110: 
Red-breasted,   111 


Goose,  Bay,  /,  158;  Brant,  161; 
Beach,  163;  Big  Gray,  158; 
Black-headed,  158;  Blue,  lS6; 
Blue  Snow,  156;  Blue-winged, 
156;  Brent,  161;  Burnt,  161; 
Cackling,  161;  Canada,  158; 
Clatter,  161;  Cravat,  158; 
Ember,  12;  Emperor,  163; 
Greater  Snow,  156;  Hutchin's. 
160;  Laughing,  158;  Long- 
necked,  158;  Little  Canada,  161  ; 
Lesser  Snow,  155;  Little  Gray. 
161  ;  Little  Wild.  161  ;  Mackerel. 
218;  Mexican.  155;  Mud.  161; 
Nigger,  97  ;  Painted.  163  ;  Reef. 
158;  Sea  (Northern  Phal- 
arope),  218;  (Red  Phalarope), 
217;  Short-necked,  161;  Small 
Gray,  161  ;  Snow,  155 ;  Solan, 
Soland,  or  Solon,  91 ;  White, 
155 ;  White-cheeked,  161  ; 
White-fronted,  158;  White- 
headed,  156;  Wild,  158;  Yel- 
low-legged, 158 
Goose-bird    (Hudsonian  Godwit), 

/,  240 
Goshawk.   //,  68 ;   American,  68 ; 

Western.  70 
Gourd  Head.  /,   178 
Graceful   Tern.  /,  64 
Grace's  Warbler,  ///,  140 
Crackle,      Boat-tailed,      //.      270; 
Bronzed.     268;     Florida.     270; 
Keel-tailed.    267;    Purple.    267; 
Rusty,  263 
Grallatores,     Order     of     Lamelli- 

rostral,  /,   169 
Grand  Fou,  /,  91 
Granny,  Old,  /,  141 
Grass 'Finch,   ///,   23;    Plover,   /, 
247 ;   Snipe,  233 ;   Sparrow,  ///, 
23;  Wren,  195 
Grass-bird     (Baird's    Sandpiper), 
/,    235;     (Pectoral    Sandpiper), 
2ii:  Hill,  249;  Red,  ///,  SO 
Grasshopper  Hawk,  //,  90;  Spar- 
row. ///,  26 
Gray  Bird,  ///,  23;  Brant  (White- 
fronted  Goose),  /,   158;  Cardi- 
nal, ///,  64;   Coot    (Scoter),   /, 
148;   (Surf  Scoter),  151;  Duck 
(Gadwall),      118;      (Mallard), 
114;   (Pintail),  128;  Pied,  128; 
Eagle     (Bald     Eagle),    //.    80; 
(Golden     Eagle),     82;     Goose, 
Big,  /,   158;  Goose,  Little,   161; 
Grosbeak,    ///,   64;    Grouse,   //, 
12;    Gyrfalcon,    85;    Jay,    227; 
Kingbird,    193;    Linnet,    ///,    5; 
Mallard,  I.   114;   Owl,  //,    109; 
Owl,     Great,     105 ;     Phalarope 
(Red       Phalarope),       /,      217; 
Plover,   /.  256;   Ruffed  Grouse. 
//.  17:  Sea  Eagle.  80;  Snipe.  /, 
229:    Teal.    152:    Towhee.    ///, 
61 ;  Vireo,  111  ;  Widgeon.  /,  118 
Grav-back    (Dowitcher).    /.    229; 
(Knot),    231:     (Scaup    Duck), 
135,  136 
Gray-cheeked  Thrush.  ///.  229 
Gray-crowned      Leucosticte.      ///, 

10:  Rosy  Finch,  10 
Gray-headed      Tunco,      ///,      47 : 

M'urrelet,  22;  Widgeon,  120 
Gray-tailed  Cardinal,  ///.  64 
Grease  Bird  (Canada  Jay).  //,  225 


INDEX 


-/o 


Great  Auk.  /.  2^ ;  Bat.  //.  166; 
Black  Woodpecker.  154;  Black- 
hacked  Gull,  /,  41  ;  Blue  Heron, 
1S4;  Carolina  Wren.  ///.  184; 
Crested  Flycatcher,  //,  196; 
Crested  Yellow-bellied  Fly- 
catcher, 196 ;  God  Woodpecker, 
154;  Godwit.  /.  241  ;  Gray  Owl, 
//,  105;  Horned  Owl,  112; 
Northern-  Diver.  /,  12;  North- 
ern Shrike,  ///,  99;  Red- 
breasted  Rail,  /.  203;  White 
Crane,  198;  White  Egret.  186; 
White  Heron.  183;  (Plgret), 
186;  White  Owl,  //.  115 
Greater  Egret.  /.  186;  Mergan- 
ser. 110;  Redpoll.  ///.  12; 
Scaup  Duck.  /,  135;  Shear- 
water, 81;  Snow  Goose,  156; 
Yellow-legs,  242. 
Great- footed  Hawk,  //,  87 
Great-head  (Golden-eye).  /,  138 
Grebe,  American  Eared.  /.  6 ; 
American  Red-necked,  4 ;  Caro- 
lina. 7;  Eared.  6;  Holboell's.  4; 
Horned,  5;  Pied-billed,  7;  Red- 
necked, 4;  Swan.  3;  Thick- 
billed.  7 ;  Western,  3 
Grebes,  /,  1 

Green  Bittern,  /.  I';i2 ;  Black- 
capped  Warbler.  ///.  164;  Black- 
throat.  143  ;  Black-throated  Fly- 
catcher, 142;  Finch,  57;  Fly- 
catcher, //,  207;  Heron.  /,  192; 
Heron,  Little,  192;  Ibis,  177; 
Jay.  //,  224;  Kingfisher.  135; 
Plover.  /.  257;  Sandpiper.  245 
Green-back.  /,  257;  Arkansas.  ///, 

15 

Green-crested   Flycatcher.   //.  207 

Greenhead     (Golden    Plover).    /, 

257;     (Loon).    12:     (Mallard), 

114;   (Scaup  Duck).  135.  136 

Greenland  Dove,  /,  23;  Gvrfalcon, 

//.  85 
Greenlet.   Bell's.   ///.    110;    Black- 
capped,   108;   Blue-headed.   107; 
Philadelphia.       104;      Red-eyed, 
102;     Warbling.     105;     White- 
eyed,  109;  Yellow-throated,  105 
Greenlets,  ///,  102 
Green-tailed   Towhee  or   Bunting, 

///.  61 
Green-wing.  /,  122 
Green-winged  Teal.  /.   122 
Grinnell's     Jay.     //.     220;     Ruby- 
crowned      Kinglet,      ///.      222; 
Water-Thrush.  155 
Groove-billed  Ani,  ///.  125 
Grosbeak.    Alaska    Pine.    ///.    5; 
American       Pine,      3 ;       Black- 
headed.  68;  Blue,  69;  California 
Pine,  5  ;  Canadian,  3  ;  Canadian 
Pine,  3  ;  Cardinal.  63  ;  Common, 
65;      Evening,     2;     Gray,     64; 
Kadiak  Pine,  5  ;  Pine.  3  ;  Purple, 
5;    Rocky   Mountain     Pine.     5; 
Rose-breasted,  65  ;  Summer,  t)5  ; 
Western.  68  ;  Western  Blue,  70  ; 
Western  Evening,  3 
Ground  Cuckoo.  //.  126;  Dove.  //, 
50;    Dove,    Mexican.     51;    Owl. 
118;    Robin.    ///,    58;    Sparrow 
(Field   Sparrow),    43;    (Savan- 
nah Sparrow),  25;  (Song  Spar- 
row),   .SO;    Thrush.    179;    War- 
bler, 159 


Ground-bird  (  Field  Sparrow  ) .  43  ; 
(Savannah  Sparrow  ),  25  ;  (Song 
Sparrow),  50;  (Vesper  Spar- 
row), 23 
Grouse.  //,  12;  Black  (Hudsonian 
Spruce  Partridge),  14;  Blue, 
12;  Canada,  14;  Canada  RulYed, 
17;  Columbian  Sharp-tailed,  28; 
Drumming,  17;  Dusky,  12; 
Eastern  Pinnated,  26;  Frank- 
lin's, 16;  Franklin's  Spruce.  16; 
Gray,  12;  Gray  Ruffed,  17; 
Mountain,  16;  Northern  Sharp- 
tailed,  27;  Pinnated,  24;  Pin- 
tailed,  27;  Prairie,  24;  Prairie 
Sharp- tailed.  2S  ;  Oregon  RutYed, 
17;  Pine,  12;  Richardson's,  13: 
Rocky  Mountain  Snow,  23 ; 
Ruffed,  17;  Sage,  29;  Sharp- 
tailed,  27;  Shoulder-knot,  17; 
Sierre,  13;  Snow  (White-tailed 
Ptarmigan),  2i  ;  (Willow  Ptar- 
migan). 20;  Sooty,  13:  Spotted, 
14;  Sprig-tailed,  27;  Tyee,  16; 
White  (Sharp-tailed  Grouse), 
27;  (Willow  Ptannigan  ) ,  20  ; 
Willow,  20;  Wood  (Franklin's 
Grouse).  16;  (Hudsonian 
Spruce  Partridge).  14 
Gnus.  I.  197 
Cruidcc.  I.  197 

Grus  amcricana.  /,   1''8:  (7.  cana- 
densis.  I.   201  :   (7.   jiic.vicana.   I, 
200 
Guadalupe  J  unco,   ///.  47 
Guara  alha,  I.  175 
(juatemala   Tunco,  ///.  47 
Guillem.  /.  25 

(juillemot.  Black.  /.  23 ;  Black- 
throated,  22;  Briinnich's,  27; 
California,  26;  F'oolish,  25: 
Franks',  27 ;  Polar.  27  ;  Pigeon, 
24;  Scapular,  23:  Thick-billed, 
26;  White,  23;  White-winged, 
2i 
Guinea  Duck,  /,  12;  Woodpecker. 
//,  140;  Woodpecker,  Little,  141 
Guiraca  carrulca  ccrnilca.  Ill,  69; 

G.  c.  lacula.   70 
Gulf-bird.  /,  217 

(3ull.  Arctic  Hawk,  /.  35;  Bass. 
60;  Black-backed.  41;  Black- 
headed  (  Bonaparte's  Gull ) ,  52  ; 
(Laughing  Gull).  48;  Black- 
toed.  35;  Blue.  41;  Bona- 
parte's. 52;  Bonaparte's  Rosy. 
52;  Burgomaster,  41;  Califor- 
nia, 45;  Common  (Herring 
Gull),  43;  (Ring-billed  Gull), 
46  ;  l-"ork-taiIed,  53  ;  Franklin's, 
50:  Franklin's  Rosy.  50;  Cdau- 
cous,  41  ;  Great  Black-backed, 
41;  Harbor  (Glaucous  (iuU). 
41  ;  (Herring  Gull).  42;  Hawk- 
tailed,  53;  Herring,  42;  Heer- 
inann's.  47;  Ice.  41;  Ivory,  39; 
Taeger,  33;  Kittiwake,  39;  Lake 
■(Herring  Gull),  42;  (Ring- 
billed  Gull).  46;  Lake  Erie,  60; 
Laughjng.  48 ;  Mackerel.  60 : 
Rin,g-bi]led,  46;  Sabine's.  53; 
Sea.  42 ;  Skua,  33 ;  Snow- 
white,  39;  Storm,  73:  Sunnner, 
(lO;  White-headed,  47;  Winter, 
42 
Gull  Cliaser.  /.  33;  Hunter.  33 
Gull-billed   Tern.   /.   54 


Gulls,  /.  38 

(Jull-teaser    (Long-tailed    laeger). 

/.   30 
Gump    (Black-bellied    Plover),    /. 

256 
Gutter  Snipe   (Wdson's  Snipe).  /. 

227 
Gwilym,  /,  25 

Gx}iniiiii\t'S  califnniianns.   II.   :>4 
Gyrfalco'n.  //.  85  ;  Black.  86  ;  (iray. 

85;     Greenland,     85;     Mach'ar- 

lane's,  85  ;  White,  85 

H 

lliciiial.ipndidcc.  I.  270 

llirinatopiis  baclunani.  I.  272;  II. 
faltiatiis.  270 

Hag.  /,  81  ;   Black.  83 

Hagdon.  /,  81  ;  Black.  83 

Haglet.  /.  81 

Hair  Sparrow.  ///,  41 

Hair-bird.  ///,  41 

Hairv  Wicket.  //,  163:  Wood- 
pecker, //,  140 

llairv-crown.  /.  112 

Hairv-head.  /.  112 

Halcyon.  //,  133 

Ilalia-i-tiis  IruLOCCphaliis  alas- 
caiiiis.  II.  81  :  //.  /.  Iriicoc-I^ha- 
lus.  80 

IIah>cyfiti-)ia  iiiicrosoma.  I.  87 

Hammock-bird,  //.  258 

Hang-bird,  //,  258 

Flang-nest,  //.  258;  Little,  ///. 
102;  Orchard.  //.  256 

Harbor  Gull  (  Glaucous  Gull ) ,  /, 
41  ;   (Herring  Gull),  42 

Hard-headed  Broad-bill,  /,  152 

Harfang,  //,   115 

Harlan,  /,  128 

Harlan's  Hawk.  //.  72 

Harlequin  Brant.  /.  158;  Duck, 
142 

llarclda  hxcmalis.  I.  141 

Harrier,  //,  64;  Marsh,  64 

Harris's  Hawk.  //.  70;  Sparrow. 
///,  33;  Woodpecker.  //.   141 

Harry.  //.   140 

Havell's  Tern.  /.  56 

Hawfinch.  American,  ///,  2 

Hawk,  American  Rough-legged,  //, 
79  ;  American  Sparrow,  90  ;  Big 
Chicken,  74;  Bird.  66;  (  Peale's 
Falcon).  89;  (Rough-legged 
Hawk).  75;  Black  Pigeon.  90; 
Blue,  64;  Blue  Hen,  68;  Broad- 
winged,  76;  Brown,  75;  Bullet 
(Pigeon  Hawk),  89;  (Sharp- 
shinned  Hawk).  66;  Buzzard, 
71;  Chicken  (Cooper's  Hawk). 
67;  (Goshawk),  68;  (Red-tailed 
Hawk),  71;  (Sharp-shinned 
Hawk).  66;  Cooper's.  67;  Des- 
ert Sparrow.  91  ;  Dove.  68 ; 
Duck.  87;  Florida  Red-shoul- 
dered. 75  ;  Frog.  64  ;  Grasshop- 
per. 90;  Great-footed.  87;  Har- 
lan's. 72;  Harris's.  70:  Kitty, 
90  ;  Kridcr's,  72  ;  Little  Sparrow. 
91;  Marsh,  64;  Meat.  225; 
Mollv.  I.  .80;  Mosquito.  //.  172; 
Afouse  (Marsh  Hawk).  64; 
(Rough-legged  Hawk),  79; 
(Sparrow  Hawk).  90;  Part- 
ridge. 68:  Pigeon.  89; 
(Cooper's  Hawk).  67;  (Sharp- 
shinned      Hawk),     66;      Quail, 


276 


BIRDS    OF    AMERICA 


67;  Red,  71;  Red-bellied, 
.75  ;  Red-shouldered,  7 A  ;  Red- 
tailed.  71  ;  Richardson's  Pigeon, 
90  ;  Rough-legged.  79 ;  Sea,  3i  ; 
Sennett's  White-tailed,  78; 
Sharp-shinned,  66 ;  Short- 
winged,  90;  Snail,  63;  Snake, 
60 ;  Sparrow.  90 ;  Sparrow 
(Sharp-shinned  Hawk),  66; 
Swainson's,  75  ;  Swallow-tailed, 
60;  Swift,  67;  White-breasted 
Cliicken,  71  ;  White-rumped. 
64  ;  Winter.  74 ;  Zone-tailed,  75 
Hawk  Gull,  Arctic.  /,  35;   Owls, 

//,  116 
Hawk-tailed  Gull,  /,  S3 
Hawk's-eve.  /.  257 
Hawks.  //.  58  ;  Fish,  93 
Hav-bird  (Pectoral  Sandpiper),  /, 

233 
Heath  Hen,  //,  26 
Heavy-tailed  Coot.  /.  152 
Hedge  Sparrow,  ///,  50 
Heermann's    Gull.    /,    47 ;     Song 

Sparrow.  ///,  52 
Hch'odvtcs     brnnncicapiUns     hrv- 
anti  III,  188;  H.  h.  coursi.  186 
Ilcliuaia  swainsoni.  III.  114 
Hell-diver    (Buffle-head).   /,    140; 
(Horned    Grebe),    5;     (Loon), 
12;    (Pied-billed    Grebe),   7 
Helmet  Quail,  //,  8 
Hclinithcros  fcrtnivorus.  111.    115 
Hclndronws       solitarms       cinna- 
moncus,  I.  246;  H.  s.  snUtarius. 
245 
Hemlock   Warbler,   ///.    137 
Hen,      Fool :      see     Grouse     and 
Quail ;        Fresh-water        Marsh 
(King  Rail).  /,  203;    (Virginia 
Rail),  205;   Heath,  //,  26;  In- 
dian.   /,    181  ;    Little    American 
Water.    207;    Marsh    (Bittern), 
181;      (Coot).     214;     Meadow 
(Clapper    Rail),    204;     (Coot), 
214;  Mud   (Clapper  Rail).  204; 
(Coot),  214;  (King  Rail).  203; 
(Sora),  207;  Pine. //.  12  ;  Pond, 
/,    214;    Prairie,    //.    24;    Red- 
billed  Mud,  /,  212;  Sage,  //.  20; 
Salt-water      Marsh,      /,      204; 
Sedge,    204;    Small    Alud.    205; 
Water     (Coot),    214;     (Florida 
Gallinule).    212;     Whifc-liellied 
Mud.  214 
Hen  Curlew.  /,  251 
Hen-bill.  /.  214 

Henlikc   Marsh-dwellers.   /.   107 
Henslow's    Sparrow    or    Bunting. 

///,  28 
Hepburn's  Rosy  Finch.  ///.  11 
Hermit    Thrush.    ///,    234;    War- 
bler. 146 
Herod  las  ciirclta.  I.   186 
Hcrodii.  I.  173.  180 
Herod ioiu-s.  I.  173 
Heron,    American   Night.    /,    194; 
Black-crowned       Night.        194; 
Gardenian.     194;     Least.     182; 
Florida.   183;   Great  Blue.   184; 
Great     White.     183;     (Egret), 
186;    Green.    192;    Little    Blue. 
100;    Little    Green.    102;    Little 
White.     188;     Louisiana.     189; 
Red-shouldered.     184;     Snowv. 
188;      White.       186:      Yellow- 
crowned  Night,   195 


Heron  Family,  /.   181 

Herons.  Storks,  Ibises  etc..  Or- 
der of,  /,  7i 

Herring  Gull,  /.  42 

Hcsfcripliona  Z'rsfTrtiiia  Jiunilana. 
Ill,  3  ;  H.  V.  vcsfcrtuH,.  2 

Hickory-head  (Ruddy  Duck).  /, 
152 

High-hole  or  High-holder,  //,  163 

Highland  Plover.  /.  247 

Hill  Grass  Bird,  /.  240 

Hill-bird,  /,  247 

Ilhnaiito/^uscr  iiicxicaniis.  J.  223 

Ilinindinidar.  IJI.  82 

Uirundo    crythrogcistra.   111,   86 

Histrioiiiciis   histrionicus,   I,    142 

Holbcell's  Diver,  /,  4;  Grebe,  4 

Hollow-billed  (Toot  (Scoter),  /, 
148;  (Surf  Scoter),  151 

Hollow-head,  /,  256 

Honker,  /,  158 

Hood-crowned  Sparrow,  ///,  33 

Hooded  Flvcatching  Warbler,  ///, 
163;  Oriole,  //,  255,  256; 
Merganser,  /,  112;  Quail,  //,  4; 
Sheldrake,  /,  112;  Titmouse, 
///,   163;   Warbler,   163 

Hoodlum,  ///,   17 

Hookum  Pake.  /.  225 

Hoot  Owl.  //.  103;  Big,  112 

Horned  Grebe,  /,  5  ;  Lark,  //,  212 ; 
Owl,  Lesser,  100;  Owl,  Little, 
109;  Owls,  112 

Horse,  Sea,  /,  80 

Horsefoot  Snipe  (Knot),  /,  231; 
(Ruddy  Turnstone).   268 

Horse-head   (Surf  Scoter),  /,  151 

Horse-head  Coot,  /,   151 

Hound,  /,  141 

House  Finch,  ///.  7;  Martin.  82; 
Sparrow.  European.  17;  Spar- 
row. Little,  41;  Wren,  192; 
Wren.  Long-tailed.  191  ;  Wren. 
Short-tailed,  192;  Wren.  West- 
ern.  194 

Huckleberry-bird,  ///,  43 

Hudsonian  Chickadee,  ///.  213; 
Curlew,  /,  252;  Godwit.  240; 
Owl,  //,  116;  Spruce  Partridge, 
14  ;  Wagtail,  ///,  169 

Humility,  /,  246 

Hummer :    see   Hummingbird 

Hummingbird.    Anna's.    //.     184; 
Black-chinned.         183;        Blue- 
throated.       181  ;       Broad-tailed, 
185;    Refulgent,    ISO;    Rivoli's, 
180;    Rubv-throated,    182;    Ru- 
fous,  187 
Hummingbirds,  //.  170 
Hunter.  Dung,  /.  35 
Hurricane  Bird,  /,  107 
Hutchin's  Goose.  /.  160 
Hxdranassa       tricolor       nificollis, 

J,  189 
Hydrnchdidon    nujra    surtnamcti- 

sis.  I,  66 
HylocicMa  alicicr  alldcr.  HI,  229; 
H.a.hickncUi,  231  ;  1 1  .fusccsccns 
fuscc.rccits.  228 ;  H.  f.  salici- 
cola,  229;  H.  quttata  audiiboni, 
236;  H.  g.  guttata.  235;  //.  g. 
nanus.  235 ;  H.  g.  pallast.  234 ; 
H.  g.  scquoicnsis,  236;  H.  g. 
sicvini,  236;  H.  mustcUna.  226; 
H.  ustulata  s^ivijiso)ii.  232;  H. 
u.  ustulata.  231 
Hyperborean  Phalarope,  /,  218 


J  hid  Ida:,  I.  173 

/bides.  I,  173 

Ibis,  Bay,  /.  177;  Glossv.  177; 
Green,  177;  Ord's,  177;  White, 
175;  White-faced  Glossy,  177; 
Wood,  179 

Ibises,  /,  173 

Ice  Gull,  /.  41 

Ice-bird,  /,  31 

Ictcria  vircns  longicauda.  III. 
163 ;  /.  V.  vircns,  162 

Ictcridcc,  II.  240 

Icterus  IniUocki,  II,  262;  /.  cucul- 
latus  nelsoni,  256;  /.  c.  seiinctti, 
255;  /.  galbula,  258;  /.  melaiio- 
cephalus  auduboni,  253;  /.  pari- 
sorum,  254 ;  /.  spurius,  256 

Ictl}ila  inlssisslppicnsls.  II,  62 

Idaho  Screech  Owl.  //.  Ill 

Inca  Dove.  //,  52 

Indian  Hen,  /.  181 

Indigo  Bird.  ///.  71  ;  Bluebird,  71  ; 
Bunting.  71  ;  Finch.  71  :  Painted 
Bunting.  71 

Injin.  Old.  /,  141 

Imber  Diver,  /.  12 

Imperial  Tern.  /.  55 

lonornis   tnartinicus,   I,  210 

Ipswich  Sparrow,  ///,  24 

Irazu   lunco,  ///.  47 

Iridoprnene  bicolor.  III,  88 

Irish  Snipe,  /,  222 

Iron-head  (Golden-eve),  /,  138; 
(Wood  Ibis),  178  ' 

Island   Shrike,  ///,   102 

Isle  of  Shoals  Duck,  /.  146 

Ivory  Gull.  /.  39 

Ivorv-bill  (Ivory-billed  Wood- 
pecker), //,  138 

Ivory-billed  Coot,  /,  214;  Wood- 
pecker, //.  138 

Ixohrxchus  exilis.  I.  182;  /.  neox- 
eiius.    183 

Ixoreus  mrfius  me^'ius.  III.  239 


Jack.  /,  252;  Black  (Ring-necked 
Duck),  137;  (Lesser  Scaup 
Duck).   136;   Whiskey.  //.  225 

Jack  Curlew,  /.  252;  Snipe  (Pec- 
toral Sandpiper),  233;  (Wil- 
son's Snipe).  227 

Jackdaw.  //.  270;  New  England, 
267;    Purple.   267 

Jack-pine  Bird,  ///,  146;  War- 
bler, 146 

Jaeger.  Arctic.  /,  36;  Long-tailed. 
36;  Parasitic.  35;  Pomarium, 
33  ;  Richardson's,  35 

Jaeger  Gull.  /.  33 

Jaegers,  /.  33 

Ian  van  Gent.  /.  91 

Jav.  Alaska.  //.  226  ;  Arizona.  224  ; 
Aztec.  220;  Belding's,  223; 
Black-headed,  220;  Blue,  217; 
Blue-cheeked,  222  ;  -crested,  220  ; 
-eared,  222;  -fronted.  220;  Cal- 
ifornia. 222;  Canada.  225; 
Coast.  220;  Conifer.  219;  Flor- 
ida, 221;  Florida  Blue.  219; 
Grav.  227;  Green.  224:  Grin- 
nell's.  220:  Labrador.  226; 
Long-crested,     220 ;     Mountain, 


INDEX 


-/  / 


21'';  Oregon,  227;  Osgood's, 
220;  Pine.  219;  Pinon,  234; 
Queen  Charlotte.  220;  Rio 
Grande  Green,  224;  Rocky 
Mountain.  226 ;  Santa  Cruz, 
223;  Scrub,  221;  Sierra  Ne- 
vada, 220;  Steller's,  219;  Texas, 
222;  White-headed.  226:  Wood- 
house's.   221  ;   Xantus,  223 

Tavs,  //,  214 

leilvct.at,  //,  155 

lennv  Wren,  ///,   192 

lew  Bird,  n,  125 

lingler,  /,  138 

linnv,  /,  268 

lohn',  Whiskey.  //,  225 

lohn  Connolly,  /.   141  ;  Down,  80 

lo-ree.  ///,  58 

Jug  Swallow,  ///,  84 

J  unco  aikcni.  III .  47  ;  /.  hycmalis 
anncctcns,  47;  J.  h.  carlincnsis. 
47;  /.  h.  conncctcns.  47;  /.  h. 
hycmalis.  45:  /.  h.  mcamsi.  47; 
/.  /;.  iiwntana.  47:  ./.  /i.  orccja- 
tnis,  47;  ./,  h.  l>iiiosus.  47;  /.  h. 
thurbcri.  47;  /.  I^hironotus  caii- 
iVr/'.f,  47  ;  /.  />.  dorsalis,  47  ;  /.  p. 
palliiitus.  47 

Juncos,  ///.  45 

K 

Kadiak  :  see   Kodiak 

Kaeding's  Petrel,  /.  86 

Kanooska.  /.  21 

Kate.  Wood,  //,  154 

Keel-tailed  Crackle,  //,  267 

Kelinky,  //,  122 

Kenai  Song  Sparrow.  ///.  53 

Kennicott's   Screech  Owl,   //.   Ill 

Kentish  Tern,  /,  59 

Kentucky  Cardinal,  ///,  63 ;  Wag- 
tail, 155;  Warbler,  155 

Kestrel,  American,  //,  90 

Key  West  Vireo,  ///.   110 

Kiddaw,  /,  25 

Killdee,  /.  259 

Killdeer.  /,  25'^:  Killdeer  Plover, 
259 

King  Eider,  /,  147;  Rail,  203 

Kingbird.  //,  1"2;  Arkansas,  195; 
Gray,   193 

Kingfisher,  Pielted,  //.  133;  Texan 
Green,   135:   Texas,   135 

Kingfishers,  //,  132 

Kinglet.  Golden-crested,  ///.  220; 
Golden-crowned,  220:  Grinnell's 
Ruby-crowned,  222 ;  Ruby- 
crowned,  221  ;  Sitka  Ruby- 
crowned,  222 ;  Western  Golden- 
crowned.  222 

Kinglets,  219 

Kirtland's  Owl.  //.  107;  Warbler, 
///,  146 

Kite.  Black-shouldered.  //.  61  ; 
Blue.  62;  Everglade.  63:  Eork- 
tailed.  60;  Mississippi.  62; 
Swallow-tailed.  60 ;  White- 
tailed.  61 

Kites.  //,  58 

Kite-tail.  /.  128 

Kittiwake.  /.  39;  Pacific.  40 

Kittiwake  Gull.  /.  39 

Kittv  Hawk.  //.  90 

Knob-billed  Auklet.  /.  22 

Knob-nosed  Auklet.  /,  22 

Knot.  /,  231 


Kodiak  or  Kadiak  Dwarf  Thrush. 
///.  235 ;  Fox  Sparrow.  57 ; 
Pine  Grosbeak.  5 :  Song  Spar- 
row. 53;  Winter  Wren.   195 

Kow-Kow    (Cuckoo).  //,   128 

K rider's  Hawk,  //,  72 

Krieker,  /,  233 


Labrador  Auk,  /,  18;  Brown- 
capped  Chickadee.  ///.  213 : 
Duck,  /.  143;  Horned  Owl.  //. 
115:   Jay.   226;   Twister.   /.   22-:< 

Ladder-back  Woodpecker.  //. 
149 

Lady  of  the  Waters.  /.   l.W 

Lady-bird    (Pintail).    /.    128 

I.agopiis  hi/opiis  iillcni.  II.  21  : 
/,.  /.  lai/opiis.  20;  /..  Icucunis 
Icuctiru.i.  2.'i :  /..  nipcslris  at- 
/,7(('».fi,f.  22:  L.  r.  chaiiihrrlaiiii. 
22:  I.,  r.  dixoni.  22:  L.  r. 
in-ls.nu.  22:  L.  r.  rcinhardi.  22: 
/-.  ;•.  rupc.^tris.  22:  L.  y.  tozcn- 
scndi.  22 

Lake  Erie  Gull.  /.  60 

Lake  Gull  (Herring  GulH.  /.  42: 
(Ring-billed  Guli).  46 

Lake  Huron  Scoter.  /.  150 

Lamellirostral  Grallatores,  Order 
of.  /.  169 

Lamellirostral  Swimmers.  Order 
of,  /,   109 

Laniidcv.  III.  98 

Lanius  horcalis.  III.  99;  /_.  /»,/,,;.,•- 
cianus  aiithoitvi.  102;  L.  1.  r.r- 
cnhitoridcs.  101  ;  L.  I.  i/aiiibt-U. 
101  ;  L.  ;.  IiidoTiciaiuis.  99;  /,.  /. 
migrans.   101 

Lanivirco  flavifrons.  III.  105;  L. 
solitarius  alticola.  108;  L.  s. 
cassini.  108:  /..  .?.  lu.ia.'^anus. 
108;  /..  .f.  plumbcus.  108:  L.  s. 
solitarius,   107 

Lanner  or  Lanneret.  American. 
//,  S7 

Lapland  Longspur,  ///,  21  :  Wax- 
wing,  95 

Lapp   Owl,  //,   106 

Large-billed  Sparrow.  ///.  26 : 
Water-Thrush.    153 

Larida-.  I.  38.  54 

Larincr.  I.  38 

Lark,  Brown.  ///.  169;  Louisiana. 
169;  Old  Field,  //.  251;  Red. 
///.  169;  Sand,  /,  249;  Snow. 
///,  19 

Lark  Bunting,  ///.  76;  Finch.  31  ; 
of  the  West.  //.  252;  Sparrow. 
///,  31 

Larks.  //.  211;  Horned,  212: 
Shore,  212 

Lanis  artjciitatus.  1,  42;  L.  atri- 
cilla,  I,  48;  L.  californicus,  I. 
45  ;  /..  dclaivarcnsis.  1 .  46 ;  L. 
franklini.  I,  50;  L.  hccrmanni, 
I.  47 ;  L.  hypcrhorcus.  I.  41  ;  L. 
marinus.  I.  4;  L.  occidcntalis.  I, 
45;  L.  Philadelphia.  I.  52 

Laughing  Goose.  /.   158:  Gull.  48 

Lavy.  /.  25 

Lawrence's  Warbler.  ///.   118 

Lawyer  ( Rlack-necked  Stilt),  /. 
223 ;  ( Double-crested  Cormo- 
rant), 97 

Laysan  .Mbatross.  /.  78 


Lazuli  Hunting.  ///,  72;  Painted 
Bunting,  72 

Lazv  Bird.  //.  243 

Leach's  Fork-tailed  Petrel.  /.  85  : 
Petrel.   85 

Lead-back  (Red-backed  Sand- 
piper),   /,    237 

Least  .Auklet.  /,  22:  Bittern.  182: 
Bittern.  Cory's,  183  ;  Flycatcher. 
//.  210;  Heron.  /,  1,S2:  Petrel. 
87;  Sandpiper,  235:  Tern,  65: 
Vireo.  ///.   Ill 

Leather-back.  /,  152 

Leconte's  Sparrow.  ///.  29; 
Thrasher,    184 

Lesser  Cliff  Swallow.  ///.  85; 
Egret,  /.  188;  Horned  Owl.  //. 
100;  Long-legged  Tattler.  /, 
244;  Prairie  Chicken.  //,  26; 
Scaup  Duck,  /.  136;  Snow- 
Goose.  155;  Vellow-legs.  244: 
Vellow-shanks.  244 

Lettuce-bird.   ///.    13 

Leucosticte.  Gray-crowned.  ///.  10 

Lcucosticti-  atrala.  III.  11  ;  /..  aus- 
tralls.  11.-  /..  tcphrocotis  litto- 
ralis,  11;  L.  t.  tcphrocotis.  10 

Lewis's  Woodpecker.  //,  158 

Life  Bird.  //,  212 

Light-bellied  Brant,  /,  161 

Light-wood-knot.    /.    152 

Liiiiicolcc.  I.  216 

Limosa  hccniastica.  I.  240:  A.  lap- 
ponica  baucri.  240;  L.  limosa. 
240 

Limpkin,   /.   201 

Lincoln's  Finch,  ///,  53 ;  Song 
Sparrow.    53 ;    Sparrow,    53 

Linnet,  ///,  7;  Gray.  5;  Red.  5: 
Red-headed.  7:  Redpoll.  11; 
Pine,   16;  Purple.  5 

Lintie.  ///.  11 

Little  American  Water  Hen.  /. 
207;  Auk.  31;  Bittern.  182; 
Black  Rail.  209;  Blackbreast. 
237  ;  Blue  Corporal.  //,  89  ;  Blue 
Darter.  66;  Blue  Heron.  /.  190; 
Canada  Goose.  161  ;  Chocolate- 
breast  Titmouse, ///.  135  ;  Cur- 
lew. /.  254;  Egret.  188;  Gray 
Goose.  161;  Green  Heron.  192: 
Horned  Owl.  //.  109;  House 
Sparrow.  ///.  41;  Loon.  /.  15: 
Peep,  238:  Red-breasted  Rail, 
205;  Sand-peep,  235;  Sheldrake. 
112;  Snowy,  188;  Sparrow 
Hawk.  //,  91;  Stone-bird,  /, 
244;  Stone  Snipe,  244;  Stryker, 
65  ;  Tern.  65  ;  White  Egret,  188 ; 
White  Heron,  188;  Wild  Goose, 
161;  Yellow  Rail,  208;  Yelper, 
244;  Liver.  /.  177 

Lizard  Bird  (Road-runner).  //. 
126 

Lobipcs  lobatus.  I.  218 

Logcock  (Ivory-billed  Wood- 
pecker), //.  "138;  (Pileated 
Woodpecker).  154 

Loggerhead    Shrike.    ///.   W 

Long  Island  Sheldrake.  /.   Ill 

Long  White.   /.   1S6 

Long-bilk-<l  Curlew.  /.  251: 
Marsh  Wren.  ///.  1''7  ;  Rail.  /. 
205 

Long-crested    lav.   //.  220 

Long-eared  Owk  //,   100 


278 


BIRDS   OF   AMERICA 


Longipcnncs,  /,  32 

Long-legged  Marsh-dwellers.  /, 
197;  Sandpiper,  230;  Storm 
Petrel,  84  ;  Tattler,  242  ;  Tattler, 
Lesser,  244 

Long-necked  Cracker,  /,  128; 
Goose,  158 

Longshanks.    /.    223 

Longspur,  Alaska,  ///,  22 ;  Chest- 
nut-collared, 22  ;  Lapland,  21  ; 
McCown's.  22;  Painted,  21; 
Siberian,  22 ;   Smith's,  21 

Long-tail  ( Old-scpiaw).  /,  141; 
(Yellow-billed  Tropic-bird),  89 

Long-tailed  Chat,  ///,  163;  Chick- 
ad'ee,  211  ;  Duck.  /.  141  ;  House 
Wren.  ///.  191  ;  Jaeger,  /.  36; 
Tern,  62 

Long-winged   Goatsucker.   //.   172 

Long-winged  Swimmers.  Order 
of,  /,  32 

Loon,  /,  12;  Adams's.  14;  Arctic. 
14;  Big,  12;  Black-billed.  12; 
Black-throated,  14;  Common. 
12;  Little,  IS;  Pacific.  14;  Red- 
throated,  15;  Ring-necked,  12; 
Sprat,  15;  White-billed,  14; 
Yellow-billed,   14 

Loons,  /,  10 

Lopliodytcs   cucullatus.   I.    112 

Lophorivx  caUfornica  californica, 
II,  8;  L.  c.  vollicola,  8;  L. 
gambcli,  9 

Lord    God    Woodpecker.    //.    154 

Lord-and-Lady,   /,   142 

Louisiana  Heron,  /.  189  ;  Lark.  ///, 
169;  Seaside  Sparrow,  31;  Tan- 
ager,  78;  Water-Thrush,  153; 
Wren,   189 

Loxia  curvirostra  minor,  8;  L.  c. 
stHcklandi.  10;  L.  Icucoptcra.  10 

Lucy's  Warbler,  ///,   119 

Ltinda  cirrhata.  I.  17 

Lutescent  Warbler.  ///,   121 


M 

McCally's  Screech  Owl.  //.  110 
McCoun's  Longspur,  ///,  22 
McDougall's  Tern,  /.  64 
MacFarlane's    Gyrfalcon.    //,    85 ; 

Screech  Owl.   Ill 
Macgillvrav's     Seaside     Sparrow. 

///.   30;  Warbler.   158 
McKay's   Snow   Bunting.  ///.  21  ; 

Snowflake.  21 
Mackerel   Goose.  /.  218;  Gull.  60 
Macrochh-cs.  II,   166 
Macrorhainphits    qriscus    griscus. 

I,  229;  M.  g.  scolopaccus.     230 
Magnolia  Warbler.   ///.    131 
Magpie.   //.   215;   American.  215; 

Black-billed,        215 ;        Yellow- 
billed.   216 
Magpies,   //.  214 
Maize  Thief.  //.  267 
Mallard.     /.     114;     Black.     116; 

Dusky,  116;  Gray,  114 
Mallemuck,  /,  80 
Mangrove  Cuckoo.   //,   130 
Man-o'-war,   /,   35 
Man-o'-war-bird.  /,   107 
Man-o'-war-birds,   /,   106 
Mantled  Ovster-catcher,  /.  270 
Marbled  Godwit,  /,  241 


Marcca    amcricana,    1,     120;    M. 

pcnclopc,  I.   119 
Marian's  Marsh  Wren,  ///,  198  ^ 
Marila   affinis,   1,    136;   M.   amcri- 
cana.   I,    131 ;    M.    coUaris,    I, 

137;    M.    marila,    I,    135;    M. 

valisincria.  I.  133 
Alarionette.  /.  140 
Marlin.      /.      241;      Field.      240; 

Crooked-billed.  252;   Red.   241; 

Ring-tailed.  240 
Marline-spike,  /,   35 
Marrock.   /,  25 

Marsh    Blackbird,   //.   248;    Blue- 
bill.     /,     137;     Clapper,     204; 

Harrier,     //,     64;     Hawk,     64; 

Hen   (Bittern),  /,  181  ;   (Coot), 

214;    Hen,    Fresh-water    (King 

Rail).     203;      (Virginia     Rail). 

205;     Hen.      Salt-water,     204; 

Owl.    //,    101;    Plover.    /.    233; 

Quail,    /,    251  ;    Robin.    ///.    58; 

Snipe.  /,  227;  Sparrow.  ///.  50; 

Tern.  /.  54 
Marsh-dwellers.   Henlike.   /.    1^7; 

Long-legged,    1^7 
Marsh-dwellers,   Order  of,  /,   197 
Martin.      Bank.      ///,     91;      Bee 

(Arkansas    Kingbird).   //.    195; 

(Kingbird),     190;     Black,     ///, 

82;   Field,  //,   190;   House,   ///. 

182;     Purple,     82;     Sand,    91; 

Western,  83 
Martvr.   Bonnet.  /.   188 
Maryland  Yellow-throat.   ///.   159 
Masked  Bob-white,  //,  4 
Mavis,  ///,  179 
May    Cock.    /.    256 ;    White-wing, 

150 
Mav-bird     (Bobolink).     //.     241 

(knot),  /,  231 
Mavnard's       Cuckoo.       //.       130 

Vireo,  ///,  110 
Meadow  Chicken   (Sora),  /.  207 

Chippy.   ///.   30;   Hen    (Clapper 

Rail).     /.     204;     (Coot).     214 

Snipe    (Pectoral   Sandpiper).   / 

233;     (Wilson's     Snipe).     227 

Wren,   ///,    195 
Meadow-bird,  //,  241 
Meadowlark,      //,      251  ;      Little 
(Dickcissel).     ///,     75;     (Lark 

Sparrow),   31;     (Redpoll),   11; 

Western,  //,  252 
Meadowwink.   //,  241 
Mearns's   Quail,  //,   10 
Meat  Bird  (Canada  Jay),  //.  225  ; 
(Clarke's      Nutcracker),      233; 

Hawk,  225 
Medlar,  //.  251 
Medlark,  //,  251 
Mcgalcstris  skua.  I.  33 
Mctiaquiscahis    major    major.    II. 

270 
Mclcagridir.    II.   31 
Mclcagris    gallopavo     intermedia. 

II,  31;  M.  g.  mcrriami.  3\;  M. 

g.  osccola.  31  ;  .1/.   g.  sik'cstris. 

'32 
Mclancrpcs     crythroccphaius.     II. 
155;     .1/.     formicivonis    bairdi, 
157;  .1/.  /.  formicivorus.  157 
Mclopclia  asiatica.  II.  49 
Mclospica  gcorgiana.   III.   54  ;  .1/. 
liiicoini     lincolni,     53 ;     M.     I- 

striata,  54 ;  M.  mclodia  caurina. 


53;  .1/.  m.  cicmcntc,  53;  M.  in. 
clconcnsis,  53 ;  M.  m.  coopcri, 
53;  .1/.  m.  falla.v,  52;  .1/.  m. 
graminca.  S3;  M.  m.  heermanni. 
52 ;  M.  in.  insignis,  53 ;  M.  m. 
kcnaicnsis,  53 ;  M.  m.  inelodia, 
SO;  .1/.  m.  mcrrilli.  52;  M.  m. 
morphna.  53 ;  M.  in.  montana, 
52;  M.  m.  pusilhila,  52;  M.  in. 
rufUna,  53 ;  M.  m.  samuclis,  53 ; 
M.  m.  sanaka.  S3 

Mendocino  Song  Sparrov/,  ///,  53 

Mer.ganser,  /.  110;  American, 
lib;  Buff-breasted,  110;  Greater 
110;  Hooded,  112;  Red- 
breasted,  111 

Mergansers,  /,  109 

Mcrgimc.  I,  109 

Mcrgits  amcricanus.  I,  110;  .1/. 
scrrator,   1,   111 

Merlin.  American.  //.  89 ;  Black. 
90;  Richardson's,  90 

Merriam's  Turkey,  //,  31 

Merrill's    Song    Sparrow,    ///.    52 

Merry-wing.  /.   138 

Messena   Partridge,  //.   10 

Mexican  Black-throated  Sparrow. 
///,  48 ;  Canary,  73  ;  Cliff  Swal- 
low, 85  ;  Creeper.  200  ;  Cross- 
bill. 10;  Field  Sparrow,  45; 
Goose.  /,  155 ;  Ground  Dove, 
//,  51;  Junco,  ///.  47;  Raven. 
//,  227;  Screech  Owl,   111 

Micropalama    himantopus.    I.    230 

Micropalias  zchitncyi,  II.   120 

Micrnpodidcr.  II,  174 

Migatory   Thrush,   ///.  236 

Migrant   Shrike,  ///.   101 

Mimic  Thrush,  ///.  175 

Mimic  Thrushes.  ///.  174 

Mimidcr,   III.   174 

Miinus  poh'qlottos  Icucoptcrus. 
Ill,  179;  M.  p.  polvglottos,  175 

Minute  Auklet.  /.  22";  Tern,  65 

Mire  Drum,  /,  187 

Mississippi  Kite,  //,  62 

Missouri   Skvlark.  ///,  171 

Mitred  Warbler,  ///.   163 

Mniotilta   varia.   III.    112 

MniotiUida.  Ill,  111 

Mock  Bird,  ///,  175 

Mocker,  ///.  175;  Brown,  179; 
Sandv,  179 

Mocking  Thrush,  ///,  175;  Wren. 
189 

IMockingbird,  ///,  175;  Brown. 
17^;  French  (Brown  Thrasher). 
1/0;  (Lo,ggerhead  Shrike).  99; 
Sandv,  179;  Slate-colored,  177; 
West'ern,   177;   Yellow,   162 

Mollimoke.  /,  80 

Molly,  Old,  /,  141 

Molly  Hawk,  /.  80 

Moiothriisatcr  atcr.  II.  243  ;  M.  a. 
obscurus.  245 

Mongrel  /.  230 

Monkev  Owl.  //.  98 

I^Ionkey- faced  Owl.  //,  ^S 

Montana  Junco.  ///,  47 

Monterev  Hermit  Thrush.  ///. 
236 

Montezuma  Quail,  //,   10 

Moon-bill,  /,   137 

Moon-fronted   Swallow,   ///.  84 

Moor-head,   /.  214 

Moose-bird.  //.  225 


INDEX 


279 


Morocco-head,  /.   110 

Morocco-jaw.  /.    151 

Mosquito  Hawk.  //.  ]'2 

Moss-head.  /.   112 

MotacilUdcc.  III.   160 

Mother   Carev's   Chicken    (Storm 

Petrel).   /.  "87:    (Wil-on's    Pet- 
rel). /.  84 
Mottled    Duck.    /,    118:    Owl.    //, 

109 
Mountain      Bluebird.      ///.      244 : 

Chickadee.   212:    Duck.    /.    142; 

Eagle,  //,  82;  Grouse.   16;  Jay. 

219;     Partridge,     5;     Pheasant. 

17;  Plover.  /.  267;  Quail,  //.  S; 

(White-tailed    Ptarmigan),   li; 

Solitary   Vireo.   ///.    108:   Song 

Sparrow,  52;  \"ireo,  108 
Mourning  Bird.  /.  264;  Dove.  //. 

46;   (Ground  Dove),  50  ;  Ground 

Warbler.     ///.     157;     Warbler, 

157 
Mouse,  Sea,  /,  142 
Mouse  Hawk  (Marsh  Hawk).  //, 

64;   (Rough-legged  Hawk).  79; 

(Sparrow    Hawk).    90;    Wren. 

///,   194 
Mouse-bird,   ///,   101 
Mud    Coot,    /,    214;    Goose.    161; 

Hen       (Clapper      Rail).      204; 

(Coot),  214:   (King  Rail).  203; 

(Sora).    207;    Hen.    Red-billed. 

212;     Hen,     Small.    205:    Hen, 

White-bellied,        214;        Plover 

(Black-bellied      Plover).      256; 

Sheldrake,  112;  Snipe,  Big,  225; 

Swallow    (Clifif    Swallow),    ///. 

84;  Teal,  /,  122 
Mud-dipper,  /,  152 
Muddy-belly,  /.  257 
Muddv-breast.   /.  257 
Mudlark,  //,  251 
Mud-peep,  /,  235 
Murre,     /.     25  ;     Briinnich's.     2(^ : 

California,  26;   Thick-billed.  27 
Murrelct.   Ancient.   /.   22 :    P.lack- 

throated,  22;  Gray-headed.  22 
Murres.  /,  16 

Muscivora  forficata.  11.   190 
Mussel  Duck,  /.  135.  136 
Myade.<!tc.'!   tnzfiiscncii.  III.  225 
Myctcria  aiiu-i-icana.  I.   178 
Myiarchns  criiiitiis.  II.   196 
Myiochancs     pcrtina.r    pallidircn- 

'iris.    II.    203;     .1/.     richard.<!oni 

richardsoni.  206;  .1/.  vircits.  203 
Myrtle    Bird,    ///,    128;    Warbler. 

128 

N 

A'aiuni.s    niascctisis.    111.    195;    A'. 

hioiialis     hcllcri.     195  ;     A',     h. 

hicinalis,    194;    A'',    h.   pacifinis. 

195 ;  .V.  meligcr,  195 

Nashville     Swamp    Warbler.    ///. 

120;  Warbler.  120 
Necklaced  Warbler.  ///.   166 
Nelson's  Downv  Woodpecker.  //. 
143;    Finch,   ///.   30;   Nuthatch. 
202;    Oriole,    //,    256;     Sharp- 
tailed    Sparrow.   ///.   30 ;    Spar- 
row. 30 
Nest  Robber,  //.  217 
Nation  carolim-n.u-.  1.   122 
New   England  jackdaw.  //.  267 


New  York  Warbler.  ///.  154; 
Water-Thrush.  154 

Newfoundland  Hairv  Wood- 
pecker. //,   140 

Nicasio   Chickadee.   ///,  214 

Ni,gger  Goose.  /,  97 

Night  Heron.  American.  /,  194 ; 
Heron.  Black-crowned,  194; 
Heron.  Yellow-crowned.  195; 
Partridge.    225 ;    Peck.    225 

Xighthawk.  //.  172;  Chapman's. 
i74;  Florida,  174;  Pacific,  174; 
Sennett's.    174:   Western.    174 

Nightingale  (Oven-bird).  ///,  151  ; 
(Veery).  228;  (White-throated 
Sparrow).  37;  .American.  235; 
Mrginia,  63 

Nightjars.  //.   166 

Nile  Tern,  /,  54 

Nine  Killer.  ///.  99 

Noddy.  /.  68;  (Fulmar).  80; 
(Ruddv  Duck),   152 

Noisy   Plover,  /.  259 

Nonpariel,  ///,  73 

Northern  Bald  Eagle,  //.  81  ; 
Black  Swift,  175;  Butcher 
Bird,  ///,  99;  Canary  Bird.  16; 
Diver,  Great,  /,  12;  Downy 
Woodpecker,  //,  143;  Eider.  /, 
145;  Flicker,  //,  163;  Hairy 
Woodpecker,  140;  Horned 
Lark,  212;  Lo.ggerhead  Shrike. 
///,  101  ;  Maryland  Yellow- 
throat.  159;  Parula  Warbler, 
123;  Phalarope.  /.  218;  Raven. 
//.  228;  Red-breasted  Sap- 
sucker.  152;  Robin.  ///.  236; 
Sharp-tailed  Grouse.  //.  27  ; 
Shrike.  III.  99;  Spotted  Owl. 
//,  105;  Turkey,  32;  Violet- 
green  Swallow.  ///.  89  ;  Water- 
thru.sh.  154;   Yellow-throat.  159 

Northwestern  Crow,  //,  231  ;  Red- 
wing, 249;   Saw-whet  Owl.   108 

Xiiiifrafin   coluiiibiana.   II.  233 

.\  ttinrnicn.^  aiih^riranns.  I.  251; 
-V.  h,n;-alis.  254;  .V.  Iiiidsoiiicus. 
252 

Nutcracker,   Clarke's.  //.  233 

Nuthatch.  Brown-headed.  111.203; 
Canada.  203;  Carolina,  200; 
Florida  White-breasted,  202 ; 
Nelson's,  202 ;  Pvgmy,  205  : 
Red-bellied,  203;  Red-breasted, 
203;  Rockv  Mountain,  202; 
Slender-billed,  202;  White-bel- 
lied, 200:  White-breasted.  200: 
White-naped,  205 

Nuthatches.   ///.    19i) 

.yiithiHornis  bon-alu.  II.  202 

Xuttall's  Pewee.  //.  202  :  Sparrow. 
///.  36;  Tern.  /.  54;  Wood- 
pecker,  //,    145 

y wldiwssa  violacca.  I.  195 

Xyctca  uyctca.  II.  115 

\' xrticnrii.v  iixcticora.v  mcz'ins.  I. 
194 


(hi'iiiutcs  occanicus.  I.  84 
Ocraiwdroiiia    fnrttitd.    I.    86;    O. 

tardiiKii.  I.  86;  ().  Icncorhna.  I. 

85 
Ochthodrumu.s-  U'il.s-.nniis.   I.  266 
(•),/,<»/, .,//,..07r.   /.    169 
Odoiiln'phoridcc.   II.    1 


Otdciiiia  aincricaiui.  I.  148;  O. 
dc<ihndi.  I.  150;  O.  trrsficil- 
liita.   I.   150 

Old  Billv.  /.  141  ;  Grannv.  141  : 
Injin.  141:  Man.  22;  Mollv. 
141  ;  Wife.   141 

Old-squaw.  /.  141 

Olive  Warbler.  ///.  123 

Olive-backed  Thrush.  ///.  232 

Olive-colored  Yellow-throated 

Wren.  ///,  159 

Olive-sided  Flycatcher.  //.  202 

Ulor  buccinator.  I,  167  ;  0.  coluin- 
hianns.  /,   164 

Oporornis  a;iilis.  III.  156;  O.  for- 
mosus.  155;  O.  Philadelphia. 
157;  O.  tolmici.   158 

Orange-crown.  ///.  120 

Orange-crowned  Warliler.  ///, 
120 

Orange-throated  Warbler.  ///. 
139 

Orchard  Hang-nest.  //.  256 ; 
Oriole,  256;  Starling,  256 

Ord's  Ibis,  /,  177 

Oregon  Chickadee,  ///.  211;  lav, 
//.  227;  Junco,  ///.  47;  Robin, 
239;  Ruffed  Grouse,  //,  17; 
Towhee.  ///.  60 ;  \'esper  Spar- 
row, 24 

Orcorty.r  picta  confinis.  11.  5  :  O. 
p.   picta.   5 ;    O.    p.   plumifcra.   5 

Orcoscoptcs   uiontanus.  Ill,  7A 

Orrospica  chlorura.  111.  62 

Oriole.  Arizona  Hooded,  //.  256; 
Audubon's  253  ;  Baltimore,  258  ; 
Brown,  256;  Brown-headed, 
243;  Bullock's,  262;  Golden, 
258;  Hooded,  255,  256;  Nel- 
son's, 256;  Orchard,  256;  Red- 
winged,  248;  Rusty.  263; 
Scott's,  254;  Sennett's,  255: 
Sennett's  Hooded.  255 :  Tri- 
colored.  249 

Ortolan.  /,  207;  American,  //,  241 

Oscincs.  II.  189 

Osgood's  Jay,  //,  220 

Osprey,  //,  94 ;  American,  94 

Ospreys,  //,  93 

("itocori.-:  alpcstris  alf^cstris.  //.  212 

(^iis  a.<:io  aikcni.  II.  Ill  ;  O.  a. 
asio.  109;  O.  a.  bcndirci.  110; 
O.  a.  cincraccus.  Ill;  O.  a. 
floridanus.  110;  (>.  a.  kcnni- 
cotti.  Ill  ;  O.  a.  mccalli.  110; 
O.  a.  niacfarhDtci.  HI;  O.  a. 
niiixu'cllicc.  Ill;  O.  Ihinmirolu.^ 
idahocnsis.  Ill:  O.  f.  flam- 
mcoliis.   Ill;   O.  trichop.us.   Ill 

Ouzel.  Water.   ///.   172 

Oven-bird,   ///,    151 

Owl,  Acadian,  //,  107;  Aiken's. 
Ill;  Allen's  Barred,  lOS ; 
Atnerican  Barn,  98:  .American 
Hawk.  116;  .American  Long- 
eared,  100;  -American  Sparrow. 
106;  .Arctic.  115;  .Arctic 
Horned,  114;  Arctic  Saw-whet, 
106:  Arizona  Screech,  111; 
Barn,  98;  Barred,  103;  Ben- 
dire's  Screech,  110;  Big  Hoot, 
112;  Billy,  118;  Burrowing, 
US;  California  Horned,  114; 
(^'alifornia  Pygmy,  120;  Cali- 
fornia Screech,  110;  Canadian. 
116;  Cat   (Great  Horned  Owl), 


28o 


BIRDS    OF    AMERICA 


112;  (Lontf-eared  Owl).  100; 
Day,  116;  Dusky  Horned,  114; 
Dwarf  Horned,  114;  Dwarf 
Screech,  111;  Elf,  120;  Ermine, 
115;  European  Hawk,  117; 
Flaminulated  Screech,  111;  Flor- 
ida Barred,  105 ;  Florida  Bur- 
rowing, 119;  Florida  Screech, 
110;  Gnome.  119;  Golden,  98; 
Great  Gray,  105  ;  Great  Homed, 
112;  Great  White,  115;  Gray, 
109;  Ground,  118;  Hoot,  103; 
Hudsonian,  116;  Idaho  Screech, 
111;  Kennicutt's  Screech,  III; 
Kirtland's,  107;  Labrador 
Horned,  115;  Lapp.  106;  Lesser 
Horned,  100;  Little  Horned, 
109;  Long-eared,  100;  Mc- 
Cally's  Screech,  110;  MacFar- 
lane"s  Screech,  111  ;  Marsh,  lOI  ; 
Mexican  Screech,  111;  Monkey, 
98;  Monkey-faced,  98;  Mottled, 
109 ;  Northwestern  Saw-whet, 
108;  Pacific  Horned,  114;  Pal- 
lid Horned,  114;  Prairie,  101; 
Pygmv,  119;  Rain,  103;  Red, 
109;  Richardson's,  106;  Rocky 
Mountain  Screech,  111;  Round- 
headed,  103;  Saint  Michael 
Horned,  115;  Saw-whet,  107; 
Screech,  109;  Shivering,  109; 
Short-eared,  101;  Snowy,  115; 
Sparrow  (Richardson's  Owl), 
106;  (Saw- whet  Owl),  107; 
Spectral,  105;  Spotted,  105; 
Spotted  Screech,  111;  Swamp 
(Barred  Owl),  103;  (Short- 
eared  Owl ),  101  ;  Texas  Barred, 
105  ;  Texas  Screech.  1 10  ;  Vir- 
ginia, 112;  Virginia  Horned, 
112;  Western  Horned,  114; 
White,  98;  White- fronted,  107; 
Whitney's,  120;   Wood,  103 

Owl-head,  /,  256 

Owls,  //,  97 

Ox-bird,  /,  237 

Ox-eye  (Black-bellied  Plover),/, 
256;  (Least  Sandpiper),  235; 
( Semipalmated  Sandpiper ) .  238  ; 
Sand,  238 

Oxycchus  vocifcrus.   I.  259 

Oyster-catcher,  /,  270;  American. 
/.  270;  Bachman's.  /.  272: 
Black,  /.  272;  Brown-backed, 
/,  270;  Mantled,  /,_270 

Oyster-catchers.  /,  270 


Pacific  Diver,  /,  14;  Godwit,  240; 
Horned  Owl,  //,  114;  Kitti- 
wake,  /,  40;  Loon.  14;  Night- 
hawk,  //,  174;  Yellow-throat, 
///,  161 

Paddy,  /,   152 

Paddy-whack.  /.   152 

Pagophihi  alba.  I.   39 

Painted  Bunting.  ///,  73 ;  Bunt- 
ing, Indigo,  71  ;  Bunting,  Lazuli. 
72;  Duck,  /,  142;  Finch,  ///, 
73 ;  Goose,  /.  163 ;  Longspur. 
///.  21  ;  Redstart.  168 

Paisano.   //.   126 

Pale  Goldfinch.  ///.  15;  Ringneck. 
/,  264 


Pale-bellv  ( Black-breasted  Plo- 
ver), /,  256;  (Golden  Plover), 
257 

Pale-breast,  /,  257 

Pallid  Horned  Owl,  //,  114; 
Wren-tit.  ///,  219 

Palm  W^arbler.  ///.  14^ 

Palmer's    Thrasher.    ///,    182 

Paludicolcc.   I.    197 

Pandion  haViactu.';  carolincusis,  II, 
94 

Pandiontda.  II.  93 

Papabotte,  /.  247 

rarabutco  uiiii:iuctus  Iiarrisi,  11. 
70 

Paradise.  Texan   Bird  of.  //,   190 

Paradise  Tern,  /,  62 

Parasitic  Jaeger.  /,  35 

Paridcc.  III.  206 

Parkman  Wren,  ///,  194 

Paroquet,   Carolina.  //,   122 

Parrakeet.   Carolina.  //.   122 

Parrot.  Sea  (Puffin),  /.  18; 
(Tufted  Puffin),  17;  Thick- 
billed,  //,   124 

Parrot-bill   (Pyrrhuloxia ),  ///,  64 

Parrot-like  Birds,  Order  of,  //, 
122 

Partridge,  //.  2 ;  Alaska  Spruce, 
15;  Birch,  17;  California,  8; 
Canada  Spruce,  15;  Cedar,  14; 
Hudsonian  Spruce,  14;  Mes- 
sena.  10;  Mountain,  5;  Night,  /, 
225  ;  Plumed.  //.  5  ;  Swamp,  14; 
Virginia,  2;  Water,  152 

Partridge  Hawk,  68 

Partridges,   //,    1 

Parula  Warbler,  ///,   122 

Passenger  Pigeon,  //.  39 

Passer  domcsticus.  III.  17 

Passcrcuhis  bc-ldhuji.  111.  26;  P. 
princeps,  24;  P.  roslratus  ros- 
tratiis,  26 ;  P.  sandivichcnsis 
alaudinus.  26;  P.  s.  lu-yaiiti.  26; 
P.  s.  sai'anna.  25  ;  P.  s.  sand- 
ivichcnsis, 25 

Passcrclla  iliaca  anncctcns.  Ill,  57  ; 
P.  i.  fuliginosa.  57;  P.  i.  iliaca, 
55 ;  P.  i.  insiilaris  .  57 ;  P.  i. 
mcgarhyncha,  57;  P.  i.  schis- 
tacca,  57;  P  i.  stcplicnsi,  57; 
P.  I.  townscndi,  57;  P.  i.  unal- 
aschcnsis,  57 

Passcn's.  II.   189 

Passcrhcrbulus  caudacuhts.  111, 
29;  P.  hcnslowi  hcnslo-wi.  28; 
P.  It.  occidcntalis,  29;  P,  Iccon- 
tci,  29;  P.  martiinus  fishcri,  Zl  ; 
P.  m.  macgiUivraii.  30 ;  P.  in. 
inaritimus,  30;  P.  ni.  penin- 
sula: 30;  P.  m.  scnnctti.  31; 
P.  nclsoni  ncL':oni.  30;  P.  n. 
subvirgatus.  30 ;  P.  niqrcsscns. 
30 

Passivina  anta'na.  111.  72;  P.  ciris. 
73;  P.  cyanca.  71  ;  P.  versicolor 
piilchra.  74;  P.  i:  versicolor.  74 
Pasture  Bird   (Golden  Plover).  /. 
257;     (Vesper     Sparrow),     ///, 
23;  Plover,  /,  247 
Patch-head,   /,    151 
Patch-head   Cont.  /.   151 
Patch-polled   Coot.   /.    151 
Patriotic  Bird.  //.  155 


Pea-bird  (Baltimore  Oriole).  //. 
258 

Peabodv   Bird.  ///.  37 

Peak-tail,  /,   128 

Peak's  Falcon,  //,  89 

Pectoral   Sandpiper,  /,  233 

Pedicrcctes  phasianellus  compes- 
fris,  II,  28;  P.  p.  columbianus. 
28;  P.  p.  phasianellus,  27 

Peep  (Least  Sandpiper),  /.  235 
( Semipalmated  Sandpiper),  238 
(Spotted  Sandpiper),  249 
Black-legged,  238;  Bull  (San- 
derling).  239;  ( White-rumped 
Sandpiper),  234;  Little  Sand 
235;  Mud.  235;  Sand.  235 
(Semipalmated  Sandpiper),  238 
(Spotted  Sandpiper),  249 
Teeter.  249;  Web-footed.  218 

Peetweet.   /,  249 

PelecanidiC,  I.  101 

Pelecanus  er\throrh\nchos,  I, 
101  ;  P.  occidcntalis',  1,   104 

Pelican,  American  White,  /,  101  ; 
Brown.  104;  Common  (of 
Florida).  104;  Common  (of 
the   North),    101;    White.    101 

Pelicans.  /,   101 

Pelick.  /.  214 

Pelidna  alpina  sakhalina,  1,  237 

Penciled   Cormorant.   /.  99 

Penguin,  /,  29 

Penthcstes  atricapiUus  atricapil- 
his.  III.  209;  P.  a.  occidcntalis. 
211;  P.  a.  scptentrionalis.  211; 
P.  a.  turncri.  211  ;  P.  carolin- 
ensis  agilis,  212;  P.  c.  carolin- 
ensis,  212;  P.  c.  impigcr,  212; 
P.  gambeli  gambeli,  212 ;  P. 
hudsonicus  hudsonicus,  213;  P. 
h.  littoralis.  213;  P.  h.  nigricans, 
213;  P.  rufesccns  harloivi.  214; 
P.  r.  neglcctus,  214;  P.  r. 
rufesccns.  214 

Perching  Birds.  Order  of.  //,  189 

Peregrine.  American.  //.  87 

Peregrine   Falcon.   //.  87 

Perisoreus  canadensis  canadensis. 

II.  225  ;  P.  c.  capitalis.  226  ;  P.  c. 
fumifrons,  226;  P.  c.  nigricapil- 
lus,  226 ;  P.  obscuriis  griseus, 
227;  P.  o.  obscurus,  227 

Peter,  Blue,  /,  214 

Peto  Bird  (Tufted  Titmouse), 
///,  206 

Petrel,  Common  Fork-tailed,  /, 
85  ;  Common  Stormy,  84 ;  Fork- 
tailed,  86;  Fulmar.  80;  Kaed- 
ing's,  86  ;  Leach's,  85  ;  Leach's 
Fork-tailed,  85;  Least,  87; 
Long-legged  Storm,  84;  Storm, 
87:  Wedged-tailed,  87;  White- 
rumped,  85  ;  Wilson's,  84 

Petrels,  /,  80 

Petrachelidon  lunifrons  lunifrons, 

III,  84;  P.  I.  melanogastra.  85; 
P.  I.  tachina,  85 

Pcnccca  icstivalis  eestiz'alis.  111. 
49;  P.  (T.  hachniani,  49 

Peucedramus    olivaccus,    III.    123 

Peverly  Bird,  ///,  137 

Pewee  (Phcebe),  //.  198;  (Wood- 
cock), /,  225;  Barn.  //.  198; 
Bridge,  198;  Nuttall's,  202; 
Sav's,  200;   Small,  207;  Water. 


INDEX 


281 


198;  Western  Black.  201: 
Western  Wood.  206  :  Wood,  20.5 

Pcwee  Flvcatcher.  //.  203 

Pewit,  //,  203:  Flycatcher,  19;; 

I'lKutlimi   anuTiainiis,  i.  8*) 

/'luhlhontUhc,  I.  88 

Phainopepla.  ///.  97 

J'lniiiiot'i-fla  nili'iu.  III.  97 

l^lnilacrocorafidcr.   I.   95 

Phalacrocorax  auritus  albociliatus. 

I,  97;  P.  a.  auritus.  J.  97;  P.  a. 
cinciiiatus,  I,  97;  P.  a.  flori- 
daiius.  I.  97;  P.  carbo.  I.  96; 
P.  penicillatus.  I,  99 

Plialccnopilus  nuttalli  calif ornicus. 

II.  171;  P.  n.  mtidus.  171;  P.n. 
nuttalli.  170 

Phalarope,  Flat-hilled.  /.  217; 
Gray,  217;  Hyperborean.  218; 
Northern,  218;  Red.  217;  Red- 
necked, 218;  Summer,  220; 
Wilson's,  220 

Phalaropes,  /,  216 

PhalarofoditUr.   I.   216 

Phalaropus  fulicarhis.   I.   2X7 

Pliasiani.  II.   1 

I'hasianidcr,  II.  34 

Phasiaiius  cclcliuus.  II.  36;  P. 
torquatus.   36 

Pheasant.  //.  17:  Drumming.  17; 
EngHsh.  35.  36;  Mountain.  17; 
Ring-necked.  34.  36 ;  Sea.  /. 
128;  Water,  112 

Pheasant-dock.   /.    128 

Pheasants.  //.  34 

Philactc  canai/ica.  I.  163 

Philadelphia  "Greenlet.  ///,  104; 
Vireo.  104;  Warbler.  157 

Philohcla  minor.  I.  225 

Phlccotomus  pilcatus  pilcatus.  II, 
154 

Phcebe,  //.  1<18;  Black.  201  ;  Say's, 
200 

Pha-nicoptcridcr,  I,   169 

Pha'nicoptcrus  ruber.  I,  171 

Pica  nuttalli.  II.  2\t>;  /'.  pica  hud- 
sonia,  215 

Pici.  II.   137 

Picidir.  II.   137 

Picoides  amcricanus  aincricanus. 
II.  149;  /'.  ,7,  dorsalis.  14":  P.  a. 
fasciatus.    14'';   P.   arcttcus,    148 

Pickax  Sheldrake.  /.  112 

Picket-tail.  /,  128 

Pick-me-up.  /.  39 

Pictured-bill,  /.  151 

Pied  Brant.  /.  158:  Duck.  143; 
Gray  Duck,  128;  Widgeon.  128 

Pied-billed  Dabchick,  /,  7;  Grebe, 
7 

Pied-winged  Coot.  /,  150;  Curlew, 
246 

Pigeon.  Band-tailed.  //.  38 ;  Blue- 
headed,  39 ;  Passenger,  39 ; 
Prairie,  /,  50;  Prairie  (Eskimo 
Curlew),  254;  (Golden  Plover), 
257;  (Upland  Plover),  247; 
Red-breasted,  //,  39  :  Sea  (Black 
Guillemot),  /,  23;  (Bonaparte's 
Gull).  52;  (Dowitcher),  229; 
(Pigeon  Guillemot).  24;  White- 
collared.  //.  38;  Wood  (Flicker), 
163;  (Passenger  Pigeon).  39 

Pigeon  Falcon.  //.  89;  Guillemot, 
/.  24;   Hawk.  //,  89;   (Cooper's 


Hawk).      67;       (Sharp-shinned 
Hawk).  66;  Woodpecker.  163 
Pigeons.   //.  37 
Pigeon-tail,  /,   128 
Pike's  Tern.  /.  62 
Pileated  Woodpecker,   //.   154 
Pileolated   Warbler,   ///,    166 
Pilot.   /,  256 
Pill-will-willet.   /.  246 
Pine    Bullhnch,    ///,    3;    Creeper, 
148;    Finch,    16;    Grosbeak,    3; 

Grouse,   //,    12;    Hen.    12;    lav. 

219;  Linnet.  ///,  16;  Siskin. 'ui; 

Warbler,  148 
Pine-creeping  Warbler.  ///.  148 
Pine-woods   Sparrow,   ///.  4'' 
Pinicdii  ciiuclcal.n-  alasccns,.':.  III. 

5;    /■.    c.    calij„rn,ca.    5;    P.    c. 

flanuinila.    5:    /'.    c.   Icucura,   3; 

/'.   ('.   niontana.  5 
Pink   Curlew,   /,    174 
Pink-eyed  Diver.  /.  5 
Pink-sided  Junco,  ///.  47 
Pinnated  Grouse.  //.  24  ;   Eastern, 

//,  26 
Pinon  Jay.  //,  234 
Pihonero.  //.  234 
Pintail,    /,    128;     (Ruddy    Duck), 

152;    (  Sliarji-tailed  Grouse).  //. 

27 
Pin-tailed   Grouse.  //.  27 
Pipilo  abcrti.  III.  62;   P.   crissalis 

crissalis.  61  ;  /'.  c.  scnicula,  61  ; 

/',   crythropUthalnius  allciii.   5''; 

P.    c.    crythcphlholnnis.    58;    P. 

fu.s'cus    nicsolcuciis.   61  ;   P.    ina- 

cululiis     arcticus.     60;      P.      in. 

clcinciitic,  t>\  ;  P.  in.  inciiali)ny.v. 

00;  P.   in.   iiiDutanus.  61;   /'.   in. 

orcgonus.  60 
Piping     Plover.     /.    264;     Belted, 

264;  Western,  264 
Pipit.   ///,   169;   Sprague's.   171 
Pipits,  ///.   169 
Piramidig.   //,    172 
Piraiu/a  crythroinclas.  III.  79;  P. 

Indoviciana.       78 ;       /'.       rubra 

coopcri.  82;  P.  r.  rubra.  81 
Pisk.  //.  172 
Pisobia    bairdi.     I.    23^^  :     P.    fus- 

cicollis.  234  ;  /'.   inaculala.  233  ; 

P.    Ill inut ilia.   235 
Plains.  Cock  of  the.  //.  29 
Plancsticus      miitratorius      acliru- 

stcrus.    III.    239;    /'.    ,„.    inifira- 

torius.   236;   P.    m.   propinauus. 

239 
Plaster-bill,  /,   151 
Platalcidcc.  I.   173 
Plautus  iinpcnnis.  I.  29 
Plcctrxphcua.v     hypcrhorcus.     HI. 

21  ;   /'.   nivali.^  nrcalis.   \"  ;  P.  n. 

townscndi.  21 
Plcyadis    autuinualis.    I.    177;    /'. 

guarauna.  I.   177 
Plover,  American  Golden,  /.  257  ; 

Bartram's.  247;   Beach    (Pipmg 

Plover),      264;       (Saiiderling), 

239;    Belted    Piping,    264;    Big 

Yellow-legged.      242;      Bishop, 

268;    Black-billed.    256;    Black- 
breasted,  256  ;  Black-heart,  237  ; 

Blue.    231  ;    Buff-breasted.   231  ; 

BuII-headod.     256;     Chattering. 

259;     Cliicken,    268;     Common, 


257;  Field  (Golden  Plover), 
257;  (Upland  Plover),  247; 
l"our-toed.  /,  256;  Golden.  257; 
Grass.  247;  Grav,  256;  Green. 
257;  Hi.ghland,  247;  Killdeer. 
259 ;  Marsh.  233 ;  IVIountain. 
2i)7;  Mud,  /,  256;  Noisv,  259; 
Pasture,  247;  Piping,  264; 
Prairie  (Mountain  Plover), 
267;  (Upland  Plover),  247;  Red- 
breasted,  231;  Red-legged,  268; 
King  (Ringed  Plover).  263; 
(  Semijialmated  Plover).  261; 
Ringed,  263 ;  Ring-necked  /. 
261;  Rock,  232;  Ruddy.  239; 
Sand.  264;  Semipalmated.  261; 
Semipalmated  Ring,  261  ;  Silver, 
231  ;  Snowy,  265;  Snowy  Ring. 
265;  Spanish.  246;  Spotted. 
257;  Swiss,  256;  Three-toed. 
257;  Upland.  247;  Western 
Piping.  264;  Whistling  (Black- 
bellied  Plover).  256;  (Golden 
Plover).  257;  Whistling  Field. 
256:  Wilson's.  266;  Yellow- 
legged.  244 

Plover-billed    Turnstone.    /,    2';iS 

Plovers,  /.  255 

Plumbeous  Chickadee,  ///,  212; 
Vireo.   108 

Plumed   Partridge,   //,   5 

Poachard  or  Pochard,  .\merican. 
/,   131 

Poacher.  /.   120 

Pocket-bird  (Scarlet  Tanager). 
///,  79 

Padasocys  niontanu.\\   I.   267 

Podilynibus   podiccps.    I.    7 

Point"  Pinos  Junco.  ///,  47 

Poke,  /,  181 

Polar  Guillemot,   /,  2/ 

Polioptila  cuvuica  ccrulca.  Ill, 
223  ;  /'.  c.  obscura.  224 

Politician,  ///,   10'' 

Polyborinir,  II,  92 

Polybonis  chcrizi'ay.   II.   '>2 

Polyglot  Chat,  ///.'  162 

Pomarine    lacger.   /,   33 

Pond  Crow.  /.  214;  Ducks.  113; 
Hen.  214;  Sheldrake.  112 

Poiccctcs  iiraiiiincus  affiiiis.  Ill, 
24;  /',  .,/.  coil  finis.  24:  P.  g. 
(/rainincus.    23 

Poor-will.  //.  170:  California. 
171  ;  Dusky.  171  ;  Frosted,  171 

Pope  (Painted  Bunting).  ///,  73; 
(Puffin),  /,   18 

Portland  Tern,  /,  62 

Por.zana  Carolina.  I.  207 

Potato-bug  Bird,  ///,  65 

Prairie  Bobolink,  ///.  76;  Brant. 
/.  158;  Chicken,  //,  24;  Chicken. 
Lesser,  26;  Chicken  of  the 
Northwest.  27 ;  Falcon,  87 ; 
Grouse,  24 ;  Hen.  24 ;  Marsh 
Wren,  ///,  198;  Owl,  //.  101; 
Pigeon  (Eskimo  Curlew),  /, 
254:  (Franklin's  Gull).  50: 
(Golden  Plover).  257;  (Upland 
Plover).  247;  Plover  (Moun- 
tain Plover).  267:  (Upland 
Plover).  247;  Sharp-tailed 
Grouse.  //.  28:  Skylark.  ///, 
171;  .Snipe.  /.  247;  Titlark,  ///, 
169;  Warbler.   150 


282 


BIRDS    OF    AMERICA 


Prairie-bird  (Golden  Plover"),  /, 
257;  (Horned  Lark).  //,  212: 
White-winged,  ///,  76 

Preacher,  ///,  102;  Bird,  102 

Prey,  Order  of  Birds  of.  //,  53 

Pribilof  Sandpiper.  /,  233 ;  Snow 
Bunting.  ///.  21 

ProccUariidtc,   I.  80 

Prague  suhis  Iirsf'rriii.  III.  S3;' 
P.  s.  subis,  82 

Prothonotary  Warbler.  ///.^113 

Protoiwtaria  ciirca.  III.  113 

Psallril^anis  iiiiiiiiiiits  iiiutiiiiiis. 
III.  215 

Psillaci.  II.   122 

Psittacida,  II,  122 

Ptarmigan,  //,  20;  Allen's.  21; 
Common,  20;  Rock,  22;  White- 
tailed,  23  ;  Willow,  20 

Ptilogonatidcr.  Ill,  93 

Ptvchoi-ainphus  alciiticus.   I.   20 

Puffin,  /,  IS;  Cinereous.  Si; 
Common.    IS;    Tufted,    17 

Puffin  Auk.  /.  18 

Puffins,  /,  16 

Puffinus  borcalis.  I.  i<3  :  P.  (inwis, 
81  :  P.  grisciis,  S3 

Pull-doo,  /,  214 

Pumper,  Thunder,  /,   181 

Pumpkin-blossom  Coot.  /,   148 

Purple  Finch,  ///.  5  ;  Gallinule,  /, 
210;  Crackle,  //,  267;  Grosbeak, 
///,  5;  Jackdaw,  //,  267;  Lin- 
net, ///,  5;  Martin,  82;  Sand- 
piper, /,  232 

Pvgmv  Nuthatch,  ///.  205;  Owl, 
'II,  119 

Pygopodes,  I,  1 

Pyrrhuloxia,  Arizona.  ///.  64; 
Texas,  65 

Pyrrhuloxia  sinuala  siiiitala,  III. 
64;  P.  s.  tcxana.  65 


Qua-bird,  /,   194 

Quail,   //,   2 ;    Arizona,   9 ;    Black, 

10;     Blue,     7;     California,     S; 

Chestnut-bellied        Scaled,        7  ; 

Fool,  10;  Gambel's,  9;  Gambel's 

Vallev.  9;  Helmet,  8;   Hooded. 

4;    Marsh.    251;    Mearns's.    10; 

Montezuma,    10;    Mountain,    5; 

(White-tailed    Ptarmigan),   2i; 

Ridgwav's,    4 ;    Scaled,    7 ;    Sea 

(Cassin's       Auklet),       /.       20; 

(Crested  Auklet),  21;    (Ruddy 

Turnstone),  268;   Top-knot.  //. 

8  ;  Valley,  8  ;  White,  23 
Quail  Hawk,  //,  67;  Sparrow.  ///. 

26 
Quail-head.  ///,  31 
Quails,  //,  1 
Quaily,  /,  247 
Quandy,  /,  141 
Quawk,  /,  194 
Quebec  Warbler,   ///,    133 
Queleli,  //.  54 
Queen     Charlotte    Jay,     //.     220; 

Woodpecker,  141 
Oucrqncdula    cvaiioptcra.    I.    125  ; 
~  O.  discors,   123 
Qulll-tailed  Coot,  /,   152 
Quink.  /,   161 
Quiscahts  quiscula  agkrus.  II.  270; 

Q.  q.  ancus,  268;  O.  q.  qiii.sciiln. 

267 


R 


Rabihorcado.    /,    107 

Raft  Duck   (Scaup  Duck),  /,  135, 

136;    Red-headed,   131 
Rail.  Black,  /.  209 ;  Carolina.  207  ; 
Chicken-billed,      207 ;      Clapper. 
204;  Common,  207;  Great  Red- 
breasted.  203;  Kin.g,  203;  Little 
Black,  209;  Little  Red-breasted, 
205;   Little  Yellow,  208;  Long- 
billed,  205;  Virginia,  205;   YeL 
low,  208 
Rail-bird    (Sora),   /,   207 
Rails,  /,  202 

Rain  Crow,  //.  128;  Dove,  128 
Ralli,  I,   197 
RaUidcc,  I,  202 

Ralhis  crepitans  crepitans.  I,  204; 
R.  c.  satiiralus.  I.  205 ;  R.  c. 
scotti,  I,  205 ;  R.  c.  waxnci,  I, 
205;  ;?.  clcgans.  I,  203;  R. 
Inngirostris  caribcrus.  I.  205 ; 
R.  obsolctus,  J,  205;  R.  vir- 
qinianns.  I.  205 
Ramshack,  //,  160 
Rapt  ores.  II,  53 

Raven.    //,    227;    Mexican,    227; 
Northern,    228;     White-necked, 
228 
Ravens,   214 
Razor-bill,  /,  29 
Razor-billed  Auk.  /,  29 
Recollet,  ///,  94 

Reciirvirostra  americana.  I.  222 
Recuri'irostridcc.  I.  221 
Red   Coot-footed   Tringa,   /,  217; 
Curlew,   241;    Crossbill,   ///,  8; 
Grassbird,    50;    Hawk,    //,    71; 
Lark,  ///,  169;  Linnet,  5;  Mar- 
Hn,  /,  241;  Mavis,  ///,  179;  Owl 
(Screech  Owl),  //,   109;   Phala- 
rope,    /,    217;    Sandpiper.    231; 
Thrush,  ///,  179 
Red-back,  /,  237 
Red-backed  Dunlin,  /.  237;  Junco. 

///.  47  ;  Sandpiper,  /,  237 
Red-bellied    Hawk,    //,    75  ;    Nut- 
hatch, ///,  203  ;  Woodpecker,  //. 
160 
Red-billed  Mud  Hen,  /,  212 
Redbird      (Cardinal),     ///,     63; 
(Summer  Tanager),  81  ;  Black- 
winged.       79 ;       Crested,       63 ; 
Smooth-headed,     81  ;     Summer, 
81 
Red-breast       (Knot),       /,       231; 
(Robin),    ///,    236;    Blue.    ///, 
241 
Red-breasted      Godwit.      /,      240; 
Goosander,      111;      Merganser, 
111  ;  Nuthatch,  ///,  203  ;  Pigeon, 
//,    39;     Plover,    /,    231;     Rail, 
Great,    203;    Rail,    Little,    205; 
Sandpiper.   231  ;    Sapsucker.   //, 
151;  Sheldrake,  /,  111;  Shovel- 
ler,    126;     Snipe     (Dowitcher). 
229;  Teal,   125 
Red-cockaded      Woodpecker.      //, 

143 
Red-crowned  Warbler,  ///,   120 
Red-eve    ( Red-eved    Vireo).    ///. 
102;   (Semipalmated  Plover),  /, 
261 
Red-eved       Cowbird.       //,       246; 
Greenlet,  ///,  102;  Towhee.  58; 
Vireo,   102 


Redhead,  /,  131;   (House  Finch). 

///,     7;      (Red-headed     Wood- 
pecker), //,   155 
Red-headed     Broadbill,     /,     131  ; 

Linnet,    ///,    7;    Raft    Duck.    /. 

131;  Teal.  /,  122;  Woodpecker. 

//,   155 
Red-legged  Duck,  /,   116;   Plover, 

268 
Red-legs.  /,  268 
Red-naped  Sapsucker,  //,   150 
Red-necked   Phalarope.   /.   218 
Redpoll,  ///,  11  ;  Greater.  12;  Yel- 
low, 149 
Redpoll  Linnet.  ///.   11 
Red-shafted  Woodpecker,  //,   165 
Red-shank.  /,  60 
Red-shouldered       Blackbird.       //, 

248;    Buzzard,    74;    Hawk,    74; 

Hawk,    Florida,    75 ;    Heron,    /, 

184;   Starling,  //,  248 
Redstart,    ///,    167;    Painted,    ///. 

168 
Redstart    Flycatcher   or   Warbler, 

///,  167 
Red-tail,  //,  71  ;  Alaska,  72;  East- 
ern, 71 ;  Western,  72 
Red-tailed   Hawk,  or  Buzzard.   //, 

71 
Red-throated   Diver.   /,   15;   Loon. 

15;  Sapsucker,  //.  150 
Red-wing      (Gadwall),      /,      118; 

(Red-winged      Blackbird),      //, 

248;    Bahama,   249;    Bi-colored. 

249;      Florida,      249;      North- 
western, 249  ;    San   Diego.  249  ; 

Sonora,  249;  Thick-billed,  249; 

Tri-colored,    249 ;    Vera    Cruz, 

249 
Red-winged    Blackbird,    //,    248; 

Oriole,  248;  Starling,  248 
Reed  Wren,  ///,  197 
Reed-bird,   //,   241 
Reef  Goose.  /,   158 
Refulgent   Hummingbird,   //,    180 
Requlus   calendula   calendula.  Ill, 

221;    R.    c.    grinnelli,    222;    R. 

satrapa    olivaccus,    222 ;    R.    s. 

satrapa,  220 
Republican    Swallow,    ///,   84 
Rhynchophanes  inccozi'ni.  Ill,  22 
Rlivnchiipsilta     pacliYrhncha.      II. 

124 
Rice-bird,  //,  241 
Richardson's      Grouse,      //.      13; 

Taegar.    /,    35;    Merlin,    //.    90; 

Owl,  106;   Pigeon  Hawk.  90 
Ridgway's  Colin,  //,  4;  Junco,  ///, 

47 ;  Quail,  //,  4 
Ring  Plover   (Ringed   Plover),  /, 

263;      (Semipalmated     Plover),. 

261  ;  Semipalmated,  261  ;  Snowy, 

265 
Ring-bill,  /,  137 
Ring-billed     Blackhead.     /.     137: 

Duck,   137;  Gull,  46 
Ringed    Dotterel,    /,   263 ;    Plover. 

263 
Ringneck  (Piping  Plover).  /.  264; 
(Ring-necked        Duck),        137; 
(Semipalmated     Plover"),     261  ; 
Pale,  264;  White,  264 
Ring-necked  Duck.  /,   137;  Loon. 

12;  Pheasant.  //,  34,  36;  Plover. 

/,  261  ;  Scaup  Duck,  137 
Ring-tailed  Eagle,  II,  82;  Marlin,. 

7,^240 


INDEX 


283 


Rio   Grande   Green    lav.   //,   224 ; 

Turkey,   //,  31 
I\ipai-ia  riparia.  III.  91 
Rissa   tridactxla  pollicaris,   I.   40 ; 

R.  t.  tr  id  act  via.  /,  39 
River    Broad-tiill,    /.    136;    Ducks. 

113;  Snipe,  249 
Rivoli's   Humininghird,  //,  180 
Road  Trotter  (Horned  Lark),  //. 

212 
Road-bird    (Lark    Sparrow),    ///, 

31 
Road-runner,  //,   126 
Robber,  Camp    (Canada  Jav),  //, 
225;       (Clarke's      Nutcracker), 
233;  Nest,  //,  217;  Sea,  /.  33 
Robert,  //,  241 

Robin,     ///,    236;     Ala-ka,     Zy^: 
American,   236;    Beacli,   /.   231; 
Blue.  ///,  241;   Canada    (Cedar 
Waxwing),   94;    (Robin),   236; 
Carolinian.     23*^ :     English.     //, 
258;  Golden,  258;  Ground,  ///, 
58;   Marsh,  58;  Northern,  236; 
Oregon.     239;     Sea,     /,     111; 
Southern,      ///,     239 ;      Swamp 
(Hermit  Thrush),  235;  (Olive- 
backed  Thrush,  232;  (Towhee), 
58;      (Wood      Thrush),      226; 
Western  239;  Wood,  226 
Robin  Dipper,  /,   140;   Redbreast. 
///.  236;  Snipe  (Knot),  /,  231; 
(Dowitcher),         229;         Snipe, 
White,  231 
Robin-breast   (Knot),  /,  231 
Rock  Duck.  /,   142;   Plover,  232; 
Ptarmigan,  //,  22 ;  Sandpiper,  /, 
232;  Snipe,  232;  Wren,  ///,  188 
Rock-bird,  /,  232 
Rockweed   Bird,  /,  232 
Rocky     Mountain     Creeper,     ///, 
200;  Carrot,  /,  13'»;  Golden-eve, 
139;     Hairy     Woodpecker,     //, 
140;   Herm'it   Thrush,  ///,  236; 
Jay,  //,  226;  Nuthatch,  ///,  202; 
Pine  Grosbeak,  5  ;  Screech  Owl, 
//,     111;     Snow     Grouse,     23; 
Swallow,   ///.   84 
Roodv,  /.   152 
Rook;  /,  152 
Roseate   Spoonbill.   /.    174;   Tern, 

/,  64 
Rose-breast  (  Rose-breasted  Gros- 
beak), ///,  65 
Rose-breasted  Grosbeak,  ///,  65 
Rostrhainus  sociabilis,  II,  63 
Rosy  Finch,  ///,   10;  Gull,  Bona- 
parte's,  /,   52 ;   Gull,   Franklin's, 
50;  Spoonbill,  174 
Rotch,  /,  31 

Rougli-leg,  //,  79 ;  Rough-leg,  Fer- 
ruginous, 79 
Rough-legged   Hawk   or    Buzzard, 

//,  79 
Rough-wing.  ///,  92 
Rough-winged  Swallow,  ///,  92 
Round-crested   Duck.   /,    112 
Round-headed   Owl,   //,    103 
Royal  Tern.  /,  57 
Ruby-crown,  ///,  221 
Ruby-crowned    Kinglet,    III,   221  ; 

Warbler,  221  ;  Wren,  221 
Ruby-throat,  //,  182 
Rubv-throated    Hummingbird,    //, 
182 


Ruddv  Diver,  /,   152;   Duck.   152; 

Plover,    239;    Turnstone,    268; 

Wren-Tit,   //,   219 
Rut¥ed    Grouse,    //,    17:    Canada, 

17;  Gray,   17;  Oregon.   17 
Rufous  Hummingbird,  //.   187 
Rufous-tailed  Thrush,  ///.  234 
Rush  Sparrow.  ///,  43 
Russet-back,  ///,  231 
Russet-backed  Thrush,  ///,  231 
Rustv    Blackbird,   //,   263;    Crow, 

263;  Crackle,  263;  Oriole,  263; 

Song  Sparrow,  ///,   S3 
Rusty-crowned  Falcon,  //,  90 
Ryiichopida;  I,  7\ 
Ryncliof's  iiiijra.  I.  73 


Sabine's  Gull.   /,  53 

Sabre-bill.  /,  251 

Saddleback.  /,  41 

Sage  Cock,  //.  29;  Grouse,  29; 
Hen,  29;  Thrasher,  ///,  174; 
Thrush,   174 

Saguaro  Woodpecker,  //,  163 

Saint  Michael  Horned  Owl,  //, 
115 

Salad-bird.  ///,   13 

Sall^iuclrs  nhsolclus  ohsoh'tus, 
III.   188 

Salt  Marsh  Yellow-throat,  ///, 
161 

Salt-water  Marsh  Hen,  /.  204 ; 
Marsh  Wren.  ///.  1"'7;  Shel- 
drake./, Ill;  Teal.  152 

Samuels's   Song  Sparrow,  ///,  53 

San  Clemente  House  Finch,  ///, 
8  ;  Song  Sparrow.  53  ;  Towhee, 
61 

San  Diego  Red-wing,  //,  249; 
Song  Sparrow,  ///.  53 ;  Tow- 
hee. 60;  Wren.  192 

San  Lucas  Solitarv  \'ireo.  ///, 
108;  Vireo,  108;  Woodpecker, 
//,  145 

San   Pedro  Bluebird,  ///,  244 

Sand  Lark,  /,  249;  Martin,  ///, 
''»1  ;  Ox-eve.  /,  238;  Plover, 
264;  Snipe,  249;  Swallow.  ///. 
'11 

Sand-bird  ( White-rumped  Sand- 
piper), /,  234 

Sanderling.  /,  239 

Sandhill  Crane,  /,  200;  Southern, 
200 

Sand-peep,  /,  235  ;  (  Semipalmated 
Sandpiper),  238;  (Spotted 
Sandpiper),  249;  Little,  235 

Sandpiper,  Aleutian.  /,  233 ; 
American  Green,  245 ;  Ameri- 
can Wood,  245 ;  Ash-colored, 
231;  Baird's,  235;  Bartramian, 
247;  Bartram's,  247;  Black- 
bellied.  237 ;  Black-breasted. 
233;  Bonaparte's,  234;  Buff- 
breasted,  249;  Canute's,  231; 
Freckled,  231  ;  Green,  245 ; 
Least,  235;  Pectoral,  233; 
Pribilof,  233;  Purple,  232;  Red, 
231;  Red-backed,  237;  Red- 
breasted,  231;  Rock,  232; 
Schintz's,  234 ;  Semipalmated, 
238:  Solitarv,  245;  Spoonbill, 
225;    Spotted,   240;    Stilt,   230; 


Upland,  247 ;  White-rumped, 
234;  Wood,  245 

Sandpipers,  /,  225 

Sand-runner,   /.  268 

Sandwich  Sparrow.  ///.  25  ;  Tern, 
/.  59 

Sandy  Mocker.  ///.  170;  Mock- 
ingbird.  179 

Santa  Barbara  Song  Sparrow,  ///, 
53 

Santa  Cruz  Jay,  //,  223 

Sapsucker  (Downy  Woodpecker), 
//,  141;  (Hairv  Woodpecker), 
140;  (Red-breasted  Nuthatch), 
///,  203;  (White-breasted  Nut- 
hatch), 200;  Northern  Red- 
breasted,  //,  152;  Red-breasted, 
151;  Red-naped,  150;  Red- 
throated,  150;  Williamson's, 
152;  Yellow-bellied,  150 

Sarcorlmiiif'hi,  II,  53 

Savannah  Sparrow,  or  Bunting, 
///,  25 

Saw-bill  (Alerganser),  /,  110; 
( Red-hreasted  Merganser), 

111  ;  Big,  110;  Common,  111 

Saw-bill  Diver,  /,  112;  Duck. 
Little,  112 

Saw-whet  Owl,  //,   107 

Saw-whet  Owd,  Artie.  //,  106 

.'^avoniis  iiu/ricaus,  II,  201  ;  5". 
i^lia-bL\   198;  5'.  savus,  200 

Sav's  Pewee,  //,  200;  Phrebe.  200 

Scaled  Dove,  //,  52;  Quail,  7; 
Quail,  Chestnut-bellied,  7 

Scape-grace,  /.  15 

Scapular   Guillemot.   /.   23 

ScardafcUa   inca.   II,    52__ 

Scarlet  Flamingo.  /.  171  ;  Spar- 
row, ///,  79 ;   Tanager,  79 

Scaup  Duck,  /,  135 ;  American, 
135,  136;  Greater,  135;  Lesser, 
136;   Ring-necked.   137 

Scavenger.   Black,   //,   57 

Schintz's   Sandpiper,  /,  234 

Scissorbill,   /,   73 

Scissor-tailed   Flycatcher,    //,    190 

Scoldenore,  /,   141 

Scolder,  /,  141 

Scolopncidce,  I,  225 

Scop,   White,   /,    151 

Scoter,  /,  148;  American,  149; 
Black,  148;  Lake  Huron,  150; 
Surf,  151;  Velvet,  150;  White- 
winged,   150 

Scotiaptcx  nchulosa  lapponka,  II, 
106;  S.  n.  nchulosa.  105 

Scott's  Oriole,  //,  254;  Seaside 
Sparrow,  ///,  30 

Scout,  /,  25 

Screech    Owl.    //.    109 

Scrub  Tav.  //,  221 

Scuttock,  /,  25 

Sea  Brant,  /,  150:  Coot  (Scoter), 
148;  (Surf  Scoter),  151:  Coot, 
Black,  148;  Coot,  White- 
winged,  150:  Crow  (Coot), 
214;  (Oyster-catcher),  270; 
Dotterel,  268;  Dove,  31;  Duck, 
146;  Ducks.  113;  Eagle.  Gray, 
//.  80;  Ea.gle.  White-headed.  SO; 
Goose  (Northern  Phalarope). 
/,  218;  (Red  Phalarope),  217: 
Gull  (Herring  Gull).  42; 
Hawk,  33;  Hen,  33;  Horse, 
80:   Alouse,   142;   Parrot   (Puf- 


284 


BIRDS    OF    AMERICA 


fin),  18;  (Tufted  Puffin),  17; 
Pheasant,  128;  Pigeon  (Black 
Guillemot),  23;  (Bonaparte's 
Gull),  52;  (Dowitcher),  220; 
(Pigeon  Guillemot),  24;  Quail 
(Cassin's  Auklet),  20;  (Crested 
Auklet),  21;  (Ruddy  Turn- 
stone), 268;  Robin,  111; 
Robber,  33 ;  Snipe  ( Northern 
Phalarope),  218;  (Red  Phala- 
rope),  217;  Swallow  (Arctic 
Tern),  62;  (Common  Tern). 
60;  (Forster's  Tern),  56; 
(Least  Tern),  65 
Seaside    Sparrow,    or    Finch,    ///, 

30 
Seattle  Wren,  ///,  192 
Sedge  Hen  (  Clapper  Rail ) ,  /,  204 
See-saw    (Spotted    Sandpiper),   /, 

249 
Scitirus  aurocaj'iUus,  III,   151  ;  S. 
motacilla.   153;  5'.  nnvchoraccn- 
sis   notabilis,    155;    J?,    n.    novc- 
boraccnsis,   154 
Si-lasphorus   /'/nfyfciriii,   //,    185 ; 

j-.  rtifus,  187 

Semipalmated      Plover,     /,     261  ; 

Ring    Plover,    261  ;    Sandpiper, 

238  ;  Snipe,  246 ;  Tern,  66 

Sennett's  Hooded  Oriole,  //,  255  ; 

Nighthawk,    174;    Oriole,    255; 

Thrasher,    ///,    182;    Titmouse, 

208;  White-tailed  Hawk,  //,  7S 

Setophaqa  picla.  III.  168;  S.  riiti- 

cilla,  167 
Sewick,  //,  210 
Shad   Spirit    (Wilson's   Snipe),  /, 

227 
Shadbird     (Wilson's     Snipe),     /, 

227 
Shag     (Brandt's    Cormorant),    /, 
99;  (Cormorant),  96;  (Double- 
crested  Cormorant),  97 
Shamshock,   //,    160 
Shanks,  Blue,  /,  222 
Sharp-shinned   Hawk.  //,  66 
Sharp-tail       (Pintail),      /,       128; 

(Sharp-tailed  Grouse),  //,  27 
Sharp-tailed      Grouse,      //,      27; 
Columbian,    28;    Northern,    27; 
Prairie.  28 
Sharp-tailed  Sparrow.  //.  29 
Shearwater.   /,   73 ;   Common   At- 
lantic,   81  ;    Cory's,    83 ;    Dark- 
bodied,  83  ;  Greater,  81  ;  Sooty, 
83;  Wandering,  81 
Shearwaters,  /,  80 
Sheldrake,      American,      /.      110; 
Big,     110;     Buff-breasted,     110; 
Fresh-water,  110;  Hooded,  112; 
Little,    112;    Long   Island,    111  ; 
Mud,    112;    Pickax,    112;    Pond 
(Hooded       Merganser),       112; 
(Merganser),  110;  Red- 

breasted,   111;   Salt-water,   111; 
Spring,      111;      Swamp,      112; 
Summer,      112;     Winter.     110; 
Wood.  112 
Shelduck.  /,   111 
Shell-bird,  /,  111 
Shiner.  ///.   13 
Shining    Crested    Flycatcher.    ///, 

97  ;  Flvsnapper.  97 
Shirt-tail.   //.    155 
Shivering  Owl.  //.  109 
Shore  Birds,  Order  of,  /,  216 


Shore  Larks,  //,  212 
Short-billed      Curlew,       /.      252; 

Marsh  Wren.  ///,  105 
Short-eared   Owl.   //.    101 
Short-footed   Tern.   /.  62 
Short-neck.  /,  233 
Short-necked   Goose.    /.    161 
Short-tailed     House     Wren.     ///. 
102:    Tern,    /,    66;    Wren,    ///. 
194 
Short-winged   Hawk.   //.   90 
Shot-pouch.  /,   152 
Shoulder-knot  Grouse.  //,  17 
Shovel-bill,   /,    126 
Shoveller,    /,     126;     Blue-winged, 

126;  Red-breasted,  126 
Shrike,  Anthony's,  ///,  102;  Cali- 
fornia, 101  ;  Gambel's,  101  ; 
Great  Northern,  99;  Island, 
102;  Loggerhead,  99;  Migrant, 
101;  Northern,  99;  Northern 
Loggerhead,  101  ;  Southern 
Loggerhead,  99 ;  White- 

rumped,   101  ;  Winter,  00 
Shrikes,  ///,  98 
Shufeldt's   Tunco,   ///.   47 
Shuffler    (Coot).    /.    214;    (Scaup 

Duck).  135,  136 
Shumagin   Fox    Sparrow,    ///.    57 
Sialia    cnrrucoidcs,    III.    244;    5. 
mcxkana    aitahclcr.    244 ;    S.    in. 
bairdi.   244;   S.   m.   occidcntalis, 
243;   S.  sialis  fuha.  243;  6".  s. 
sialis.  241 
Siberian   Longspur.   ///,   22 
Sickle-bird,  /,  251 
Sickle-billed  Curlew,  /.  251 
Sierra   Creeper.  ///.  200 ;  Grouse, 
//,  13;  Hermit  Thrush.  ///.  2.i6 
Sierra  Madre  Creeper,  ///.  200 
Sierra  Nevada  Jav.  //.  220 
Silktail.  ///,  95 
Silkv  Flycatchers,  ///,  03,  07 
Silver  Plover,  /.  231  ;  Ternlet,  65  ; 

Tongue,  ///,  50 
Silver-rack.  /.  231 
Simpleton       (Red-backed      Sand- 
piper). /.  237 
Singing  Dove.  //,  40 
Siskin,    American,   ///,    16;    Pine. 

16 
Sitka  Ruby-crowned  Kinglet.  ///. 

222 
Sitta  aiiwdcnsi.i:.  III.  203  ;  S.  caro- 
lincnsis     acutcata.     202;     S.     f. 
atkiusi.   202;   5.   c.   canilincn.'.is. 
200;     6".     c.     nchoni.     202;     .9. 
pusilla.    203 ;    .')'.    pygimca    pyii- 
incra.  205  ;  S.  p.  Icuconucha.  205 
SUtidcc.  III.    100 
Skait-bird,   /,  35 
Skiddaw,   /,   25 
Skimmer,  Black,  /,  73 
Skimmers,   /,   71 
Skuas.  /.  33 
Skunk   Blackbird.    //,   241  ;   Duck. 

/,  143 
Skunk-head.  /.  151  ;  Blackbird,  //. 

241 
Skunk-headed  Coot.  /.   151 
Skunk-top.  /,   151 
Skvlark.  //,  211;   European,  211; 
Missouri,  ///,  171;  Prairie,  171 
Slate-colored    Fox    Sparrow,    ///, 
57 ;     Junco,     45 ;     Mockingbird, 
177;   Snowbird,  45 


Sleepy  Brother,  /,  152;  Coot,  152; 

Duck,  152 
Sleepy-head,   /,    152 
Slender-billed   Nuthatch,   ///,   202 
Small   Grav   Goose,   /.    161  ;    Mud 
Hen,    205;    White-eved    Vireo, 
///,   110 
Small-billed     Water-Thrush,     ///, 

154 
Smaller    Dough-    or    Doe-bird,    /, 

240 
Smee,  /,   128 

Smith's   Longspur,  ///,  21 
Smoker    /,  251 
Smoking  Duck,  /,  120 
Smooth-headed    Redbird,    ///,    81 
Smutty  Coot,  /,  148 
Snail  Hawk,  //,  63 
Snake  Hawk,  //,  60 
Snake  Killer,  //,   126 
Snake-bird,  /,  93 
Snake-skin  Bird,  //,  196 
Snipe,     American.     /.     227;     Big 
Mud,     225;     Big-headed,     225; 
Blind     225;    Bog.   227;    Brown, 
229 ;  Checkered,  268 ;  Cow,  233 ; 
Crooked-billed,  237  ;  Duck,  246 ; 
English,  227;   Fall,  237;   Frost, 
230;    Grass,    233;    Gray,    229; 
Gutter,  227;  Horsefoot  (Knot), 
231;    (Ruddy  Turnstone),  268; 
Irish,      222;      Jack       (Pectoral 
Sandpiper),      233:       (Wilson's 
Snipe),  227:  Little  Stone.  244; 
Marsh    (Wilson's    Snipe),   227; 
Meadow    (Pectoral   Sandpiper), 
233;     (Wilson's     Snipe),     227; 
Prairie,  247;  Red-breasted,  229; 
River,  249;  Robin  (Dowitcher), 
229;    (Knot),   231;    Rock,   232; 
Sand,     249;      Sea      (Northern 
Phalarope),   218;    (Red    Phala- 
rope), 217;  Semipalmated,  246; 
Stone,        242;         Surf,        239; 
Whistling,     225;     White,     239; 
White    Robin.   231  ;    White-bel- 
lied.  281;  Wilson's.   227;  Win- 
ter    (Purple    Sandpiper),    232; 
(Red-backed    Sandpiper),    237; 
Wood.  225 
Snipes.   /.   225 

Snow  Bunting.  ///.  19 ;  Chippy. 
40;  Goose,  I,  155;  Goose.  Blue, 
156;  Goose.  Greater.  156; 
Grouse  (White-tailed  Ptarmi- 
gan). 23;  (Willow  Ptarmigan). 
20 ;  Grouse.  Rocky  Mountain. 
23;  Lark.  ///.  19 
Snowbird  (Junco).  ///.  45; 
(Snow  Bunting).  19;  Black, 
45;  Blue,  45;  White,  19;  Slate- 
colored,  45 
Snowflake,   ///,   19 ;  Aleutian,  21  ; 

McKay,  21 
Snow-white  Gull.  /.  39 
Snowv,  Little.  /.   188 
Snowy  Egret.  /.  188 ;  Heron.  188 ; 
Owi.    //,    115;    Plover,    /,    265; 
Ring  Plover,  265 
Snubnosed  Auklet  or  Auk,   /,   21 
Snuff-taker,  /,   151 
Social   Sparrow.   ///.   41 
Solan  (Soland,  or  Solon),  Goose, 

/.  91 
.Solitare.  Townsend's.  ///,  225 
Solitary    Sandpiper.    /.   245 ;   Tat- 


INDEX 


285 


ler.  245:  Thrush.  ///.  235: 
Vireo,  107 

Soniatcria  drcsscri.  I.  146 ;  5. 
iiwllissinia  Iwrt'alis,  I,  145;  5^. 
spcclal'ilis.   I.    147 

Song  Sparrow,  ///,  50;  Thrush 
(Brown  Thrasher),  179; 
(Wood  Thrush).  226;  Wren, 
191 

Sonera  Red-wina;.  //.  249 ;  Yellow 
Warbler.  ///.  127 

Sooty  Fox  Sparrow.  ///.  57 ; 
Grouse,  //.  13;  Shearwater.  /. 
83 ;  Song  Sparrow.  ///,  53 ; 
Tern.  /,  68 

Sora.  /.  207 

Soree,  /,  207 

South  American   Teal.  /.   125 

Southern  Butcher-bird.  ///.  99; 
Chickadee,  212;  Downy  Wood- 
pecker, //,  142;  Hairy  Wood- 
pecker, 140;  Loggerhead 
Shrike.  ///.  99;  Parula  War- 
bler, 122;  Pine  Finch,  49; 
Robin.  239;  Sandhill  Crane.  /. 
200;  Water-Thrush.  ///.  153; 
Waxwing.  94 ;  Widgeon.  /. 
120;  Yellow-throat.  ///.   161 

South-southerly.  /.   141 

Squam  Duck.  /.  146 

Squealer.   /.    142 

Squeaking  Duck,  /,    141 

Spanish  Curlew.  /.  175  ;  Plover. 
246 

Sparked-back,  /.  26S 

Sparrow,  Acadian  Sharp-tailed, 
///.  30;  Alameda  Song,  52; 
Aleutian  Savannah,  25 ;  Aleu- 
tian Song,  S3;  .Antillean  Grass- 
hopper, 27 ;  Bachman's,  49 ; 
Belding's,  26;  Bell's,  4<:> ; 
Bischoff's  Song.  53;  Black- 
chinned,  45;  Black-throated,  48; 
Brewer's,  43;  Bryant's,  26; 
Bush  {Field  Sparrow),  43; 
(Song  Sparrow),  50;  Canada 
(Tree  Sparrow),  40;  (White- 
throated  Sparrow),  37:  Chip- 
ping, 41  ;  Clav-colored.  43;  Cor- 
dova, 58;  Desert.  48;  Desert 
Song.  52;  Doinestic.  17;  Eng- 
lish, 17;  European  House,  17; 
Field,  43 ;  Field  ( Savannali 
Sparrow),  25;  Fisher's  Seaside, 
31;  Forbush's,  54;  Fox,  55; 
Fox-colored.  55;  Gambel's.  36: 
Golden-crowned,  36 ;  Grass, 
23 ;  Grasshopper.  26 ;  Ground 
(Field  Sparrow),  43;  (Sa- 
vannah Sparrow),  25;  (Song 
Sparrow),  50;  Hair.  41; 
Harris's,  33:  Hedge,  50;  Heer- 
mann's  Song,  52 ;  Henslow's, 
28;  Hood-crowned.  33:  House. 
17;  Ipswich.  24;  Kenai  Song, 
S3 ;  Kodiak  Fox.  57 ;  Kodiak 
Song,  53 ;  Large-billed,  26 ; 
Lark,  31;  Leconte's.  29;  Lin- 
coln's or  Lincoln's  Song,  S3 ; 
Little  House.  41  ;  Louisiana 
Seaside.  31  ;  Macgillvray's  Sea- 
side. 30  ;  Marsh,  SO  ;  Mendocino 
Song.  S3 ;  Merrill's  Song.  52 ; 
Mexican  Black-throated.  48; 
Mexican  Field.  45 ;  Mountain 
Song,  52;  Nelson's  or  Nelson's 
Sharp-tailed.        30;        Nuttall's 


Sparrow,  26;  Oregon  Vesper. 
24;  Pine-woods.  49;  Quail, 
26 ;  Rush,  43  ;  Rusty  Song.  53  ; 
Samuels's  Song,  53 ;  San 
Clemente  Song,  53 ;  San  Diego 
Song,  53 ;  Sandwich,  25  :  Santa 
Barbara.  S3 ;  Savannah.  25 ; 
Scarlet.  29 ;  Scott's  Seaside. 
30;  Seaside,  30;  Sharptailed, 
29 ;  Shumagin  Fox,  57 ;  Slate- 
colored  Fox,  57;  Social,  41; 
Song,  50  ;  Sooty  Fox,  57  ;  Sooty 
Song.  53  :  Stephens's  Fox,  57  ; 
Swamp.  54  ;  .Swamp  Song,  54  ; 
Texas,  57;  Texas  Seaside.  31; 
Thick-billed  Fox,  57;  Town- 
send's  Fox,  57 ;  Tree,  40 ;  Tur- 
key, 58  ;  \>sper,  23  ;  Western 
Chipping,  43 ;  Western  Field. 
44  ;  Western  Grasshopper,  27  ; 
Western  Henslow's,  29 ;  West- 
ern Lark,  33:  Western  Savan- 
nah, 26  ;  Western  \'esper,  24 ; 
White-crowned,  35 ;  White- 
throated  or  White-throated 
Crown,  37:  Winter,  40;  Wood, 
43 ;  Worthen's.  45 ;  Yakutat 
l"ox.  57 ;  Yakutat  Song,  53 ; 
Yellow-winged,  26 

Sparrow  Hawk.  //.  ''0 ;  (  Sharp- 
shinned  Hawk).  66;  Desert,  91  ; 
Little,  91 

Sparrow  Owl  (Richardson's 
Ow]).  //.  106;  (Saw-whet 
Owl),   107 

Staliila  civtt-ata.  I.   126 

Speckle-belly  (Gadwall).  /.  118; 
(White-fronted  Goose).  158 

Speckle-billed    Coot.   /.    151 

Speckle-cheek  (Texas  Wood- 
pecker). //.   144 

Speckled  Brant.  /.  158;  Canada 
Warbler.  ///,  166 

Spectacle  Coot.  /.   151 

Spectacled  Brant.  /.  158;  Eider. 
144 

Spectral  Owl.  //.   105 

Sl'i'iityl{i  cuiiicuhiria  floridaim 
II.  "11":  .V.  .-.  hypOiicca.  118 

S[<h\yapicus  ruber  notkcnsis,  II. 
152;  .S'.  )■.  nihcr,  151  ;  .S".  thyroi- 
ih'us.  152;  6".  rarius  niiclialis, 
150;  S.  varius  variiis.  ISO 

Spike-bill  (Hooded  Merganser), 
/.   112;    (Marbled  Godwit).  241 

Spike-billed    Curlew.    /.    241 

Spike-tail  (Pintail).  /.  128: 
(Sharp-tailed    Grouse),    //.    27 

Spindle-tail.  /.  128 

Spine-tail.   /.    152 

.Stiniis  /'/«!(.?.  ///.  16 

Spirit  Duck  (Buffle-head),  /,  140; 
(Golden-eye),    138 

.Spiza  aincricana.  III,  75 

Sphi-lla  alroinihvis.  III.  45:  5'. 
brewcri.  43;  S.  monticola  mon- 
ticola.  40 ;  -S".  m.  ochracca.  40 ; 
.S".  pallida.  43 ;  .S'.  passcrina  ari- 
znncr,  A3:  S.  p.  passcrina.  41; 
.v.  pusilta  arcnacca,  44;  ,S".  p. 
pusilla,  43;  S.  zi'ortltciii,  45 

Splatter.  /.  214 

Split-tail.  /.  128 

Spoonbill  (Ruddv  Duck),  /,  152; 
(Shoveller),  126;  Roseate,  174; 
Rosv,   174 


Spoonbill  Duck.  /.  12(i;  Sand- 
piper, 225;  Teal,  126 

Spoon-billed   Buner-ball.  /,   152 

Spoonbills,  /,   173 

Spot-rump,  /,  240 

Spotted  Canadian  Warbler.  ///. 
166;  Greenland  Dove.  /.  23: 
Grouse,  //.  14:  Owl.  105; 
Plover,  /,  257;  Sandpiper,  249; 
Screech  Owl.  //.  Ill;  Towhee, 
///,  60;  Warbler.  131 

Sprague's   Pipit.   ///.   171 

Sprat  Loon,  /,   IS 

Sprig-tail       (Pintail),       /,       128; 

^  (Ruddy  Duck),  152 

Sprig-tailed  Grouse,  //.  27 

Sprit-tail,  /,  128 

Spring  Bird.  //,  212;  Black  Duck. 
/,   116;   Sheldrake,   111 

Spring-tail,  /,   128 

Spruce  Partridge,  Alaska.  //.  15; 
Canada,    15 ;    Hudsonian,    14 

Spruce   Wren,    ///.    1^4 

.Spurred  Towhee,  ///,  61 

Squat   Snipe.  /,  233 

.Squalarola  squatarola.  I,  256 

Squatter,  /,  233 

Squawk,   /,   194 

.^^quealer.   /.  257 

Stake   Driver.  /,   181 

-Stare.   Crescent.   //.  251 

Stariki,  /,  21 

Starling,  Orchard,  //,  256;  Red- 
shouldered.  248 ;  Red-winged, 
248 

Starlings,   //.  235 

Steel-head.  /,    152 

.Sl,-<nuiopod,:<:.   I.  88 

.'^ICiiaunpKS  tricohu-.  I.  220 

.^frb/idi-ipti-rv.v  si-rripcniiis.  ///, 
"2 

SteFler's  Jay.  //,  219 

Stephens's  Fox  Sparrow.  ///.  57; 
Whip-poor-will.  //,   170 

.Stcrcnrariidcc.   I.  32 

Stcrcorarius  lomiicajidus.  I.  36 ; 
5".  parasiticus,  35 ;  S.  ponui- 
riuus,  33 

Sterna  aiitilhruiit.  I.  65  ;  5".  caspia, 
55  ;  S.  dougalli,  64 :  .9.  forstcri, 
56;  .v.  fuscata,  6S:_S.  hirundo, 
60 ;  .?.  ina.viina.  57 ;  S.  para- 
disiva.  62 ;  5'.  saiid'^'iccnsis  acu- 
flavida,  59 

Stcrnimr,  I.  54 

Stib.   /.  237 

Stick-tail,   /.   152 

Stiff-tail.  /.   152 

Stiff-tailed    Widgeon.    /,    152 

Stilt,  /,  223  ;  Black-necked,  /.  223 

Stilt  Sandpiper.  /.  2.50 

Stilts.   /.  221 

Stint,   Wilson's.   /.   235 

Stocking,   Blue,  /,  222 

Stone  Curlew  (White  Ibis),  /, 
175;  (Willet),  246:  Snipe 
(Greater  fellow-legs),  242; 
Snipe,  Little.  244 

Stone-bird.  /.  242 :  Little.  244 

Stone-picker.    /.   268 

Stork,  .^merican  Wood.  /,  179 

Storks.  /.   173 

Storm  Crow.  II.  128;  Gull,  /,  73; 
Petrel,  S7  :  Petrel,  Long-legged, 
84 

Stormv    Petrel,    Common.    /.   84 

Strany.  /.  25 


286 


BIRDS    OF    AMERICA 


Streaked-back  (Ruddy  Turn- 
stone).  /.   268 

Strigcs,  II.  53 

Strigida-.  II,  97 

Striker    (Cooper's   Hawk),   //.  67 

Striped  Warbler.  ///.  112 

Striped-head  (Hudsonian  Cur- 
lew), /.  252 

Strix  occidcntalis  caurina.  II.  105  : 
5'.  o.  occidciilalis.  105  ;  5".  raria 
albogiha.  105;  5.  t'.  allcni.  105; 
5.  V.   varia.    103 

Stryker,  Little,  /,  65 

Stub-and-twist,  /.   152 

Stump    Swallow,    ///,   88 ;    Wren, 

^  192 

Stuniclla  magna  iiiagiia,  II,  251  ; 
5'.  ncglccla.  252 

Sturnidtr,  II.  235 

Stunuis  vulgaris.  II.   235 

Sugar  Bird.'///,  2 

Snia  bassaiia.  I,  91  ;  .?.  Icuco- 
gastra,  90 

Sulida;  I,  90 

Sultana,  /,  210 

Summer  Black  Duck,  /.  116; 
Duck,  129;  Grosbeak.  ///,  65; 
Gull,  /,  62;  Phalarope,  220; 
Redbird.  ///.  81;  Sheldrake,  /. 
112;  Tanager.  ///,  81;  Teal,  /, 
123;  Warbler,  ///,  126;  Yellow- 
bird,    127;   Yellow-legs,  /,  244 

Surf  Coot,  /.  151;  Duck  (Surf 
Scoter),  151  ;  Duck.  Black,  150; 
Duck,  White-winged,  150;  Sco- 
ter, 151  ;  Snipe,  239 

Surf-bird,  /.  268 

Surf-birds,  /.  267 

Surfer,  /,  151 

Surinam  Tern,  /,  66 

Surnia  ulula  caparoch,  II,  116; 
i".  u.  ulula,  117 

Swaddle-biU,  /,   126 

Swainson"s  Cliff  Swallow.  ///, 
85;  Hawk,  //,  75;  Thrush.  ///, 
232;  Warbler,  114;  Warbling 
Vireo,  105 

Swallow.  American  Barn,  ///,  86; 
Bank,  91;  Barn,  86;  Barn 
(Cliff  Swallow),  84;  Barn-loft, 
86;  Blue-back,  88;  Bridge,  92; 
Chimney,  //,  175;  Cliff,  ///,  84; 
Crescent,  84 ;  Eave,  84 ;  Eave 
(Tree  Swallow),  88;  Fork- 
tailed,  86;  Jug,  84;  Lesser 
Cliff,  85;  Mexican  Cliff,  85; 
Moon-fronted,  84 ;  Mud,  84 ; 
Northern  Violet-green,  89;  Re- 
publican, 84:  Rocky  Mountain, 
84;  Rough-winged,  92;  Sand, 
91  ;  Sea  (Arctic  Tern),  /.  62; 
(  Common  Tern),  60;  (Forster's 
Tern),  56;  (Least  Tern).  65; 
Stump.  ///.  88;  Swainson's 
Cliff.  85;  Tree.  88;  Violet- 
ereen.  89;  White-bellied.  88; 
White-breasted.  88 

Swallows.  ///.  82 

Swallow-tail,  //.  60 

Swallow-tailed  Duck.  /.  141  ;  Fly- 
catcher //,  190;  Hawk,  60; 
Kite.  60 

Swamp  Angel.  ///.  235 ;  Black- 
bird, //,  248;  Finch,  ///.  50; 
Owl  (Barred  Owl).  //,  103; 
(Short-eared    Owl).    101;    Par- 


tridge. 14;  Robin  (Hermit 
Thrush).  ///.  235;  (Olive- 
backed  Thrush).  2i2;  (Tow- 
hee).  58;  (Wood  Thrush), 
226;  Sheldrake,  /,  112;  Song 
Sparrow.  ///,  54;  Sparrow.  54; 
Warbler  (Connecticut  War- 
bler),    156;     (Tennessee    War- 

^  bier),  121 

Swan,  /,  164;  American  Whis- 
tling, 164 ;  Common,  164 ; 
Trumpeter,  167;  Whistling,  164; 
Wild,  164 

Swan  Grebe.  /,  3 

Swans,  /,   164 

Swift,  American,  //.  175;  Black. 
175;  Chimney,  175;  Northern 
Black,  175;  Vaux's,  178;  White- 
throated,   178 

Swifts.  //,  166.  174 

Swimmers,  Order  of  Lanielliros- 
tral,  /,   109 

Swimmers,  Order  of  Long- 
winged,   /,   il 

Swimmers,  Order  of  Totipalmate, 
/,  88 

Swimmers,  Order  of  Tube-nosed, 

Swiss  Plover.  /.  256 
Sycamore  Warbler.  ///,  139 
Sylvan   Flycatcher.   ///.  223 
Syhiida-.   III.   2V> 
Syiithlihoraiiif'hiix  aiiliqinis.   I.   22 


Taclivciiii'ta  lliala.'i.sina  lcl>ida.  Ill, 
8"  " 

Tadpole.   /.   112 

Tamarack  Warbler  ///.    156 

Tammy  Norie,  /,   18 

Tanagaridcv.  III.  77 

Tanager.  Canada.  ///.  7'';  Louis- 
iana, 78;  Scarlet,  7'^;  Summer, 
81  ;   Western.   7>> 

Tanagers,  ///,   77 

Tangai'ius  ancus  ctucus.  II.  246; 
T.  cc.   involucratus.  24fi 

Tarrock,  /,  39 

Tarweed  Canary,  ///.  15 

Tatler.  Long-legged,  /.  242 ; 
Lesser.  244  ;  Solitary.  243 

Tawny  Creeper.  ///.  200;  Thrush, 
228 

Teacher.  ///,   151 

Teal,  Blue-winged,  /,  123;  Brown 
Diving,  152;  Cinnamon,  125 
Gray,  152;  Green-winged,  122 
Mud,  122;  Red-breasted.  125 
Red-headed.  122;  Salt-water, 
152;  South  American.  125 
Spoonbill,  126;  Summer.  123 
White-faced.  123 ;  Winter, 
122 

TeaTer.  /.  35;  Gull.  36 

Teeterer,  /.  240 

Teeter-peep.  /.  249 

Teeter-tail.  /.  249 

Tell-tale :  see  Greater  Yellnw- 
legs  and  Yellow-le.gs 

Tchnafodvtcs  l^alustris  griscus. 
III.  198 ;  T.  f.  iliccus.  198 ;  T.  p. 
mariancr.  198;  T.  p.  paludkola. 
lf»8:  T.  p.  palustris.  1^7;  T.  p 
picsius.   108 


Tennessee  Warbler.  ///,   121 

Tercel,  //,  87 

Tern,     American     Black.     /,     66 
Anglican.  54  ;  Arctic,  62  ;  Black, 
66;     Boys',     59;     Cabot's,     59 
Caspian.   55 ;   Caspian   Sea.   55 
Cayenne.      57 ;      (Zommon,     60 
Crimson-billed,   62;    Ducal,   59 
Egyptian,     54;     Forster's,     56 
Graceful,    64;    Gull-billed.    54 
Havell's.      56;      Imperial.      55 
Kentish,   59 ;    Least,   65 ;    Little^ 
65 ;       Long-taiJed.       62 ;       Mc- 
Dougall's.      64;       Marsh,,      54; 
Minute,  65;  Nile,  54;  Nuttall's, 
54;    Paradise,    62;    Pike's,    62; 
Portland.      62;      Roseate,      64; 
Royal.  57;  Sandwich.  59;  Semi- 
palmated.  66;  Short-footed,  62; 
Short-tailed,     66;     Sooty,     68; 
Surinam,  66;  Wilson's,  60 

Ternlet,   Silver.  /.  65 

Terns.  /.  54 

Tclraonidar.  II,    12 

Texas  or  Texan  Barred  Owl,  //, 
105;  Bird  of  Paradise.  190; 
Bob-white,  4;  Chickadee,  ///, 
212;  Downy,  //,  144;  Green 
Kingfisher,  135;  Jay,  222; 
Kingfisher.  135;  Pyrrhuloxia, 
///,  65;  Screech  Owl.  //.  110; 
Seaside  Sparrow,  ///.  31  ;  Spar- 
row. 57;  Vireo.  Ill;  Wood- 
pecker, //,   144;  Wren.  ///,   192 

Tlialassidroiiia   pclagica,   I,   87 

Thick-billed  Fox  Sparrow,  /// 
57;  Grebe,  /,  7;  Guillemot,  27 
Murre,  27;  Parrot,  //,  124 
Redwing,  249 

Thistle  Bird  or  Finch.  ///.   13 

Thrasher,  Bendire's.  ///.  182 
Brown,  179;  California.  183 
Crissal.  185;  Curve-billed.  182 
Leconte's.  184;  Palmer's,  182 
Sage,  174;  Sennett's.  182 

Three-toed   Plover.  /.  257 

Three-toed   Woodpecker.  //,   149 
Alaska,       149;      Alpine.       149 
American.     149;     Arctic.     148 
Black-backed.        148;        White- 
backed.   149 

Three-toes,  /,  257 

Thrush,  Alaska  Hermit,  ///.  235  ; 
Alice's,  229;  Alma's.  232; 
Aquatic.  151  ;  Audubon's  Her- 
mit. 236;  Bicknell's,  231; 
Black-capped,  177;  Brown,  179; 
Dwarf  Hermit,  235 ;  Fox- 
colored.  179;  Golden-crowned, 
151  ;  Gray-cheeked,         229 

Ground,      179;     Hermit,     234 
Kodiak  Dwarf.  235  ;  Migratory, 
236;      Mimic.      175;      Mocking 
175;     Monterey     Hermit.     236 
Olive-backed.    232;    Red,    179 
Rocky   Mountain    Hermit,   236 
Rufous-tailed,      234;      Russet- 
backed,  231;  Sage.  174;   Sierra 
Hermit.     236;      Solitary.     235; 
Song    (Brown   Thrasher),    179; 
(Wood    Thrush).    226;    Swain- 
son's, 232 ;  Tawny.  228 :  Varied, 
239;     Willow,     229;     Wilson's, 
228;  Wood.  226 

Thrush  Blackbird.  //,  263 

Thrushes.  ///.  224;  Mimic.   174 


INDEX 


287 


Tlirxothflrus    bezvicki    bairdi.    Ill, 

192 ;   T.  b.  bcwkki.   191  ;   T.  b. 

caloflwiius,  192;   7".  b.  charicn- 

ttirus,   192;   T.  b.  crvftus.    102; 

T.  b.  stilunis,   192;   T.  Iiitlmn- 

C!a}tiis   Uidovicianus.    189;    T.    I. 

miaincnsis,  191 
Thunder   Pumper,   /.    181 
Thurber's  Junco.  ///.  47 
Tick  Bird.  //.  125 
Tilt-up,  /,  249 
Timber    Doodle    (Woodcock).    /, 

225 
Tinker   (Murre).  /.  25;    (PutTm). 

18;    (Razor-billed    Auk).   2'' 
Tinkershire.  /,  2i 
Tip-up.  /.  24');   Yellow,  ///.   149 
Tip-up  Warbler.  ///.   14" 
Tit,       Black-capped,       ///,       209; 

Tufted,  206 
Titlark.  ///,  169 
Titmice,  ///.  206 
Titmouse,  Black-capped,  ///,  209; 

Black-crested.      208;       Bridled, 

208;     Crested.     206;     Hooded, 

163 ;      Little      Chocolate-breast, 

135;     Sennetfs,     208;     Tutted. 

206;  WoUweber's.  208;  Yellow, 

126 
Toad-head     (Golden     Plover),    /, 

257 
Tolmie's  Warbler.   ///.    158 
Tommy  Woodpecker.  //.  141 
Tomtit.  Crested,  //.  20(. 
Top-not  Quail,  //.  8 
Torch-bird.  ///,  137 
Totanus     flavij^cs,     I.     244;      T. 

jnclaiifllcucus.  242 
Totipalmate  Swimmers,  Order  of, 

/,  88 
Tough-head.  /.  152 
Tow-head,  /.  112 
Towhee.   ///,   58;    (Bobolink),  //, 

241  ;  Abert's,  ///.  61  ;  Anthony's, 

61;   Arctic.  60;   California.  61; 

Caiion.    61  ;    Chestnut-crowned. 

61;    Florida,    59;    Fuscous.    61; 

Gray,     61  ;      Green-tailed.     61  ; 

Oregon,  60 ;  Red-eyed.  58 ;  San 

Clemente.   61;    San    Diego.   60; 

Spotted.      60 ;       Spurred.      61  ; 

White-eyed.   59 
Towhee  Bunting,  ///,  58 
Townsend's     Cormorant.     /.     99; 

Fox    Sparrow,    ///.    57 ;    Junco. 

47;  Solitare.  225;  Warbler.  144 
Toxastoma   brndisi.    111.    182;    T. 

crissalc,     185 ;      T.     ciirvirostrc 

curvirnstre,   182;   T.  c.  pahucri. 

182;    r.   U-contci    Iccontci.   184; 

T.  lonnirosti-c-  scniirtli.   182;   T. 

rcdh'iz'um,  183;  T.  rufiiiii,  179 
Traill's   Flycatcher,   //.  208 
Tramp.  ///.  17 
Tree    Bunting.    ///.    40 ;    Creeper. 

199;    Duck.    (Hoodeil    Mergan- 
ser).   /.     112;     (Wood    Duck). 

129;  Mouse.  ///.  200;  Sparrow. 

40;   Swallow.  88 
Tricolor.  //.   155 
Tri-colored     Blackbird.     //.     249; 

Oriole.     249;     Red-wing.     249; 

Woodpecker.  155 
Triddler.  /.  233 

Tringa,  Red  Coot-looted.  /,  217 
Triiu/a  canntus.  I.  231 


Trochili    11.   179 

TrochUidcc.  11.  179 

TrOfil'i'dytcs  acdon  acdnn.  III. 
1''2;   '/".  a.  parktnani.  l')4 

T,o!)lodyt,dcr.  III.  186 

Trogon.  Coppery-tailed.  //.  131 

Trogon  aiiibuiuiis,  II.    131 

Trotioncs.  11,  125 

Tro.ionidcr.   II.    131 

Trogon s.  //.  131    _ 

Troop-fowl.  /,   135,   136 

Tropic-bird,    Yellow-billed,    /,    89 

Troiiic-birds,  /,  88 

Trout-bird,  /,  257 

Trumpeter  Swan,  /,  167 

Trymiites  submficoIU.^.  I.  249 

Tube-nosed  Swimmers.  Order  of. 
/,  75 

Tuhinarrs,  1.  75 

Tufted  Chickadee.  ///,  206;  Cor- 
morant. /.  99;  Puftin,  17;  Tit, 
///,  206;  Titmouse.  206 

Tule  Wren,  ///.   198 

Tm-did(c.   HI.   224 

Turkey.  .American,  //,  i2 :  .Ameri- 
can Wild,  32;  Eastern.  52:  Col- 
orado. /.  179;  Florida.  //.  31  ; 
Merriam's.  31;  Xorthern.  i2 : 
Rio  Grande.  31;  Water.  /.  ''3; 
(Double-crested  Cormorant). 
97;  Wild.  //.  32;  Wood.  i2: 
Yucatan  Ocellated.  31 

Turkey  Buzzard,  //.  56;  Sparrow. 
///.  '58;  Vulture.  //.  56 

Turkeys.  //,  31 

Turnstone,  Black,  /,  270;  Black- 
headed,  270  ;  Ployer-billed.  268  ; 
Ruddy.  268 

Turnstones,  /.  267 

Turtle  Dove.  //.  46 

Twister,   Labrador.   /.   225 

Tvee  Grouse.  //.  16 

Txinpanuchus  amcrkanus  amcri- 
\-amis.  11.  24;  T.  a.  ,iftz.;ilrri. 
24;  T.  cupido.  26;  T.  palli- 
dicinctus.  26 

Tymniiidcr.  II.    189 

Tvrannus  doinliiiccnsis.  II.  193; 
'r.  txniinuis.  192;  T.  7rrfiialis. 
195  ■ 

Tyrant  Flycatcher.  //.  189 

Tvstv,  /,  23 


U.  V 

Uncle   Huldy,   /.   141 

Lhicle  Sam  Coot.  /.  150 

Upland  Crane.  /.  200;  Plover.  /, 
247 ;    Sandpiper.   247 

Uplander,  /.  247 

Uria  lomvia  IniiiZ'ia.  I.  27 :  U. 
trnilc  calif  ornica,  26;  U.  t. 
I  roil  c,  25 

Valley   Quail.   //.  8;   (^ambel's,  9 

Varied  Bunting.  ///.  74 ;  Creep- 
ing Warbler.   112;   Thrush.  239 

Vaux's  Swift.  //.  178 

\'eerv.  ///,  228 

Velvet  Duck,  /,  150;  Scoter,  150 

X'enison   Bird,   //.  225 

Vera  Cruz  Red-wing,  //.  249 

Verdin,  ///.  216 

Vcrmivflra  crlala  cclata.  III.  120; 
V.  c.   Uitciccns.   121  ;    f,   c.  sor- 


dida.  121;   /'.  clirysoptrra.  118; 
V.    Iiicicr.     119;     I',    pcrcgriiia, 
121;   ;'.  piiius.   116;   T.  rubrica- 
pilla   (/iitturalis,    120;    F.   r.   ru- 
bncapitla.  120 
Vesper   Sparrow.   ///.  23 
Vigor's   Wren,   ///,    192 
Violet-green    Swallow.   ///,   8') 
Vireo,     Bell's,     ///,     IHl;     Black- 
capped.   108;  Blue-headed.   107; 
Brotherly-love.     104;     Cassin's, 
108;  Gray,  111  ;  Key  West,  110; 
Least,     111;     Maynard's,     110; 
Mountain  or  Mountain  Solitary, 
108;  Plumbeous,  108;  Philadel- 
phia.   104;   Red-eyed,    102;   San 
Lucas    or    San    Lucas    Solitary, 
108;     Small     White-eyed.     11(D; 
Solitary.  107;   Swainson's  War- 
bling. '105;    Texas.    Ill  ;    War- 
bling.   105  ;   Western   Warbling, 
105;   White-eyed,   109;   Yellow- 
throated,  105 
rirco    lUniapillns.    HI.     108;     U. 

;>.'//;  belli.  110;  r.  />.  wcdius. 

Ill;  ;•.  /',  pnsillus.  Ill;  T, 
griscns  yrisciis.  10');  1'.  g. 
maxnardi.  110;  V.  q.  inicnis. 
lid;  r.  vicinior.  Ill' 

rirconidcc.   111.    102 

X'ireos.  ///.   102 

I'ircosly'L'a  gih\i  gilva.  HI.  105;  V. 
q.  szcainsoiii.  105;  ( '.  olii'dcca, 
102;   r.  philaddphica.   104 

Virginia  Cardinal.  ///.  63  ;  Horned 
Owl.  //.  112;  Nightingale.  ///, 
63;  Owl,  //,  112;  PartVidge,  2; 
Rail,  /,  205  ;  Redbird,  ///.  63 

Vulture.  Black.  //.  57;  Califor- 
nia. 54  ;  Turkey.  56 

Vultures.  //.  53 


W 

Wagell,  /.  41 

Wagtail,  Aquatic  Wood.  ///.  154; 
Golden-crowned,  151  ;  Hudson- 
ian,  169;  Kentucky,  155;  Water 
(Louisiana  Water-Thrush).  153; 
(Water-Thrush),  154;  Wood, 
151 

Wagtail  Warbler,  ///,   149 

Wagtails.   ///.    169 

Wake-up,  //,   163 

Walk-up,  //.   163 

Walloon.  /.   12 

Wamp.  /.  146 

Wandering   Shearwater,   /,   81 

Wapacuthu,  //,  115 

Warbler.  Alaska  Yellow, ///,  127  ; 
Audubon's.  130;  Autumnal. 
136;  Azure.  132;  Bav-breasted, 
135;  Birch,  120;  Black  and 
White.  112;  Black  and  Yellow, 
131;  Blackburnian.  137;  Black- 
capped,  164;  Black-fronted, 
131;  Black-headed.  163;  Black- 
masked  Ground.  159;  Black- 
poll,  136;  Black-throated  Blue, 
127;  Black-throated  Gray,  141; 
Black-throated  Green.  142; 
Black-throated  Ground.  157; 
Bloody-side.     133;     Blue.     132; 


288 


BIRDS    OF    AMERICA 


Blue  Golden-winged  Warbler, 
118;  Blue  Vellow-backed,  122; 
Blue-eyed  ^'ellow,  126;  Blue- 
headed  Yellow-rumped,  131  ; 
Blue-winged,  116;  Blue-winged 
Yellow,  116;  Blue-winged 
Swamp,  116;  Brewster's,  118; 
Brewster's  Yellow,  127;  Cairn's, 
128;  Calaveras,  120;  California 
Yellow,  127;  Canada,  166;  Cape 
May,  124;  Cerulean,  132;  Chest- 
nut-sided, 133;  Connecticut, 
156;  Crape,  157;  Creeping,  112; 
Dusky,  121;  Evergreen,  142; 
Golden  (Prothonotary  War- 
bler), 113;  (Yellow).  126: 
Golden  Pileolated,  166 ;  Golden 
Swamp,  112;  Golden-crowned, 
128;  Golden-winged,  118; 
Golden-winged  Swamp,  118; 
Grace's,  140;  Green  Black- 
capped,  164;  Ground,  159; 
Hemlock,  137;  Hermit,  146; 
Hooded,  163  ;  Hooded  Flycatch- 
ing,  163;  Jack-pine,  146;  Ken- 
tucky, 155;  Kirtland's,  146; 
Lawrence's,  118;  Lucy's,  110; 
Lutescent,  121  ;  Macgillivray's, 
158;  Magnolia,  131;  Mitred, 
163;  Mourning,  157;  Mvrtle, 
128;  Nashville,  120;  Nashville 
Swamp,  120:  Necklaced,  166: 
New  York,  154;  Northern  Par- 
ula,  123;  Orange-crowned,  120; 
Orange-throated,  137;  Olive, 
123;  Palm,  149;  Parula,  122; 
Philadelphia,  157;  Pileolated, 
166;  Pine,  148;  Pine-creeping, 
148;  Prairie,  150;  Prothono- 
tary, 113;  Quebec,  133;  Red- 
crowned,  120;  Redstart,  167; 
Ruby-crowned,  221  ;  Sonora 
Yellow,  127;  Southern  Parula. 
122;  Speckled  Canada,  166; 
Spotted,  131  ;  Spotted  Canadian, 
166;  Striped,  112;  Summer, 
126;  Swainson's,  114;  Swamp 
(Connecticut  Warbler).  156; 
(Tennessee  Warbler ).  121:  Syc- 
amore, 139;  Tamarack,  156; 
Tennessee,  121  ;  Tennessee 
Swamp,  121;  Tip-up,  149:  Tol- 
mie's,  158;  Townsend's.  144" 
Varied  Creeping,  112;  Wagtail, 
149;  Western  Yellow-rumped, 
130;  White-poll,  112;  Willow, 
113;  Wilson's,  164:  Wilson's 
Mycatching,  164 ;  Worm-eating, 
115;  Worm-eating  Swamp.  115; 
Yellow.  126:  Yellow  Palm.  150; 
Yellow  Red-poll.  149;  Yellow- 
crowned  (Chestnut-sided  War- 
bler), 133;  (Myrtle  Warbler), 
128;  Yellow-rumped.  128:  Yel- 
low-tailed, 167 ;  Yellow- 
throated.  138 
Warblers.  ///,  111 
Warbling  Vireo  or  Greenlet,   ///, 

105 
Washington  Eagle,  //,  80 
Water  Chicken  (Coot).  /.  214; 
(Florida  Gallinule).  212;  Hen 
(Coot).  214:  (Florida  Gallin- 
ule). 212;  Little  American.  207; 
Ouzel.    ///.    172;    Partridge.    /. 


152;   Pewee.  //.   198;   Pheasant. 
/.      112;      Wagtail      (Louisiana 
Water-Thrush),        ///,        153; 
(Water-Thrush),    154 
Waters,  Ladv  of  the,  /,   189 
Water-Thrush,     ///,     154;     Grin- 
nell's.     155:    Large-billed,     153; 
Louisiana,  153:  New  York.  154; 
Northern.      154:      Small-billed. 
154;  Southern,  153 
Water-Turkey.    /.    93 ;     ( Doulilc- 
crested  Cormorant).  97 

Water-witch  (Horned  Grebe),  /. 
5;   (Pied-billed  Grebe),  7 

Wavey,  /,   155;  Blue,  156 

Waxv/ing,  Black-throated,  ///, 
95 ;  Bohemian,  95 :  Carolina, 
94;  Cedar,  94;  Lapland,  95; 
Southern,  94 

Waxwuigs,  ///,  93 

Web-footed  Peep,  /.  218 

Wedged-tailed   Petrel,   /,   87 

Western  Black  Pewee,  //,  201  ; 
Blue  Grosbeak.  ///.  70;  Blue- 
bird. 243 ;  Chipping  Sparrow. 
43  :  Crow.  //.  231  ;  Cuckoo.  130; 
Dabchick.  /,  3;  Evening  Gros- 
beak ///.  13;  Field  Sparrow, 
44;  Flycatcher,  //,  206;  Gnat- 
catcher,  ///,  224;  Golden- 
crowned  Kinglet,  222;  Gos- 
hawk, //.  70 :  Grasshopper 
Sparrow,  ///,  27 ;  Grebe,  /, 
3:  Grosbeak,  ///.  68:  Henslow's 
Sparrow.  29;  Horned  Owl.  //. 
114;  House  Wren.  ///.  104; 
Lark  Sparrow.  33 ;  Marsh 
Wren,  198;  Martin,  83;  Mea- 
dowlark,  //,  252:  Mockingbird, 
///.  17;  Nighthawk.  //.  174; 
Piping  Plover.  /.  264;  Red-tail, 
//,  72;  Robin.  ///.  239;  Sa- 
vannah Sparrow.  26;  Tanager, 
7S  ;  Vesper  Sparrow,  24  ;  War- 
bling Vireo,  105 ;  Winter 
Wren,  195;  Wood  Pewee,  //, 
206 :  Yellow-rumped  Warbler. 
///.  130;  Yellow-throat.  159, 
161 

Whale-bird  (Red  Phalarope).  /, 
217;  (Northern  PhalaroneC 
218 

Wheat  Bird.  //.  212;  Duck.  /.  120 

Whew,   or   Whewer.   /.   119 

Whiffler.  /,  138 

Whim.  /.   119 

Whip-poor-will.  //,  168;  Stephen's. 
170 

Whiskey  Tack  or  John.  //.  225 

Whistle-Duck.  /.   138 

Whistler  (European  Widgeon).  /, 
119;  (Golden-eye),  138; 
(Woodcock),  225;  Brass-eved, 
138 

Whistle-wing,  /,  138 

Whistling  Field  Plover,  /,  256; 
Plover  (Black-bellied  Plo^-er), 
256;  (Golden  Plover),  257; 
Snipe,  225  ;  Swan,  164  ;  Swan, 
American,  164 

White,  Long,  /,  186 

White  Bank-bird,  /,  218;  Brant, 
155;  Crane,  1^8;  Crane.  Great. 
198;  Curlew,  175;  Egret,  186; 
Egret,  Great,  186;  Egret.  Little. 
188;   Gannet.   91;     Goose,    155: 


Grouse  (Sharp-tailed  Grouse), 
//,  27:  (Willow  Ptarmigan), 
2(1;  (juillemot,  /,  23:  (jyrfalcon, 
//,  85;  Heron,  /,  186  i  Heron, 
Great,  183;  (Egret),  186; 
Heron,  Little,  188;  Ibis,  175; 
Pelican,  101;  Quail,  //  23; 
Owl  (Barn  Owl),  98;  (Snowy 
Owl),  115;  Ringneck,  /,  264; 
Robin  Snipe,  231  :  Scop,  151 ; 
Snipe,   239;    Snowbird.    ///,    19 

White-back,  /,   133 

White-backed  Three-toed  Wood- 
pecker, //,   149 

White-bellied  Brant,  /,  161; 
Darter,  93;  Mud  Hen,  214; 
Nuthatch.  ///,  200;  Snipe,  /, 
231  ;   Swallow,  ///,  88 

White-belly  (Baldpate),  /.  120; 
(Sharp-tailed  Grouse).  //,  27 

White-bill  (Coot),  /,  214; 
(  [unco),  ///,  45 

Wliite-billed   Loon,   /,   14 

Whitebird,   ///,    19 

White-breasted  Cliicken  Hawk, 
//,  71;  Nuthatch,  ///,  200; 
Swallow,  88 

White-cheeked    Goose,    /,    161 

White-collared  Pigeon.  //,  38 

White-crested    Cormorant,    /,   97 

White-crown,  ///,  33 

White-crowned    Sparrow.    ///,    35 

White-eved  Greenlet,  ///,  109; 
Towhee,  59;   Vireo,   109 

White-faced  Glossy  Ibis,  /,  177; 
Teal,  123 

White-fronted  Goose,  /,  158; 
Owl,  //,   107 

White-head,   /,    151 

White-headed  Bald  Brant,  /,  156; 
Eagle,  //,  80;  Goose,  /,  156; 
Gull,  47;  Jay.  //.  226;  Sea 
Eagle.  80;  Woodpecker.  146 

Vhite-napped   Nuthatch.   ///,   205 

White-necked    Raven.    //,    228 

White-poll  Warbler,   ///,    112 

White-rump,  /,  240 

White-rumped  Hawk,  //.  64; 
Petrel.  /.  85 ;  Sandpiper,  234 ; 
Shrike.  ///.   101 

W^iite-shirt.  //.   155 

White-tail.  //.  78 

White-tailed  Hawk.  Sennett's,  //, 
78 ;  Kite,  61  ;  Ptannigan,  23 

White-throat.   ///,   37 

White-throated  Sparrow.  ///.  37; 
Swift.  //.   178 

White-wing.  Black.  /.  150;  East- 
ern. 150;  May,  150 

White-winged  Blackbird  ( Bobo- 
link), //,  241;  (Lark  Bunting), 
///,  76;  Crossbill,  10;  Dove,  //, 
49 ;  Guillemot,  /,  23 ;  Junco,  ///, 
47;  Prairiebird,  76;  Scoter,  /, 
150;  Sea  Coot,  150;  Surf 
Duck,   150 

Whitev,  /.  239 

Whitney's  Owl,  //,  120 

Whooping  Crane,  /,   198 

Wick-up,  //,  163 

Wide-awake,  /,  68 

Widgeon,  /  119:  .American,  120 
Bald,  120:  Blue-billed,  135,  136 
California,  120;  European,  119 
Grav,    118;    Grav-headed,    120 


INDEX 


Pied,  128;  Southern,  120;  Stiff- 
tailed,  152;  Wood,  129 

Widgeon  Coot,  /,  152 

Wife,  Old,  /,  141 

Wild  Canary  (Goldfinch),  ///,  13; 
(Yellow  Warbler),  126;  Dove, 
//,  46;  Duck,  /,  114;  Goose. 
158;  Goose,  Little,  161;  Pigeon 
(Band-tailed  Pigeon),  //,  38; 
(Passenger  Pigeon),  3'>:  Swan, 
/,   164;   Turkev,  //,   32 

Willet,  /,  246 

Williamson's  Woodpecker  or  Sap- 
sucker,  //,  152 

Willock,  /,  25 

Will-o'-the-Wisp,  //,   172 

Willow  Goldfinch,///,  15;  Grouse, 
//,  20;  Ptarmigan,  20;  Thrush, 
///,  229;  Warbler,  113;  Wood- 
pecker, //.   143 

Will-willet,  /,  246 

H'ilsonia  canadensis,  III,  166;  11'. 
citrina,  163;  W.  pusilla  cliry- 
scola,  166;  W.  p.  pilcolata,  166; 
(/'.  p.  pusilla,  164 

Wilson's  Black-cap,  ///,  104; 
Bluebird,  241;  Flycatcher,  104; 
Flycatching  Warbler,  104;  Pet- 
rel, /,  84;  Phalarope,  220; 
Plover,  266;  Snipe.  227;  Stint, 
235;  Tern,  60;  Thrush.  ///, 
228 ;  Warbler,  164 

Wimbrel,  American,  /.  252 

Windhover,  //,  90 

Winter  Butcher  Bird,  ///.  99; 
Chipbird,  40;  Chippy,  40;  Duck 
(Old-squaw),  /,  141;  (Pin- 
tail), 128;  Gull.  42;  Hawk.  //, 
74;  Horned  Lark,  212;  Rock- 
bird,  /,  2i2;  Shrike,  ///.  99; 
Snipe  (Purple  Sandpiper).  /, 
232;  (Red-backed  Sandpiper). 
237;  Sparrow,  ///,  40;  Teal 
(Green-winged  Teal),  /.  122; 
Wren.  ///,  194;  Yellow-legs,  /, 
242 

Witch,   Black,  //,   125 

Wobble.  /,  29 

WoUweber's    Titmouse,    ///,    208 

Wood  Duck.  /,  129;  (Hooded 
Merganser),  112;  Grouse 
(Franklin's  Grouse),  //.  16; 
iHudsonian  Spruce  Partridge  i, 
14;  Hen  (Pileated  Wood- 
pecker), 154;  (Woodcock),  /. 
225;  Ibis,  179;  Kate.  //.  154; 
Owl.  103;  Pewee,  203;  Pewee, 
Western,  206;  Pigeon  i  Flicker >, 
163;  (Passenger  Pigeon),  3''; 
Robin,  ///,  226 ;  Sandpiper.  /. 
245;  Sheldrake,  112;  Snipe. 
225 ;  Sparrow,  ///,  43 ;  Stork, 
American,  /,  179;  Thrush.  ///, 
226;  Turkey,  //.  32;  Wagtail, 
///,  151  ;  Wagtail.  Aquatic.  154; 
Widgeon,  /.  129;  Wren  (House 
Wren).  ///.  192;  (Winter 
Wren),    194 

Woodchuck,  //.  138 

Woodcock.  /.  225;  (Ivory-billed 
Woodpecker),  //,  138;  (Pile- 
ated Woodpecker),  154;  Am- 
erican, /,  225 

Woodhouse's  Jay,  //.  221 

Woodpecker,  Alaska  Three-toed, 
//.  149;  Alpine  Three-toed.  140; 
American       Three-toed,       14'i; 


Ant-eating,  157;  Arctic  Three- 
toed,  148;  Arizona,  146;  Au- 
dubon's Hairv,  140;  Batch- 
elder's,  143;  Black,  158;  Black- 
backed  Three-toed,  148;  Brown- 
headed,  152;  Cabanis's,  141; 
California,  157;  Crow,  158; 
Downy,  141;  Gairdner's,  142; 
Gila,  163;  Golden-fronted,  161; 
Golden-winged,  163  ;  Good  God, 
154;  Great  Black,  154;  Great 
God,  154;  Guinea,  140;  Hairv, 
140;  Harris's,  141;  Ivory-billed, 
138;  Ladder-back,  149;  Lewis's, 
158;  Little  Guinea,  141; 
Lord  God,  154;  Nelson's 
Downy,  143 ;  Newfoundland 
Hairy,  140;  Northern  Downy, 
143;  Northern  Hairy,  140; 
Nuttall's,  145;  Pileated.  154; 
Pigeon.  163;  Queen  Charlotte, 
141;  Red-bellied,  160;  Red- 
cockaded,  143;  Red-shafted, 
165;  Rocky  Mountain  Hairy, 
140;  Saguaro,  163;  San  Lucas, 
145;  Southern  Downy.  142; 
Southern  Hairy,  140;  Texas, 
144;  Three-toed,  149;  Tommy, 
141;  Tri-colored,  155;  White- 
headed.  146;  White-headed 
Three-toed.  149;  Williamson's, 
152;  Willow,  143;  Yellow- 
bellied.  150;  Yellow-shafted. 
163 

Woodpeckers.   //.    137 

Woods.   Cock  of  the,  //.   154 

Wool-head.  /.   140 

Worm-eater.  ///.  115 

Worm-eating   Warbler,    ///.    115 

Worthen's   Sparrow.   ///.   45 

Worthington's  Marsh  Wren,  ///. 
108 

Wren.  Alaska.  ///.  195 ;  Aleutian. 
105;  Attn,  195;  Baird's.  192; 
Bewick's,  191  ;  Bluish-gray.  223; 
Brown,  192;  Brvant's  Cactus, 
188;  Cactus,  186;  Cahfornia 
Marsh.  198;  Carolina.  189; 
Cat-tail.  197 ;  Coues's  Cactus, 
186;  Fiery-crowned,  220;  Flor- 
ida, 191  ;  Fresh-water  Marsh, 
195;  Golden-crowned,  220; 
Grass,  195 ;  Great  Carolina, 
189;  House.  192;  Jenny,  192; 
Kodiak  Winter,  195 ;  Long- 
billed  Marsh,  197;  Long-tailed 
House,  101;  Louisiana.  189; 
Marian's  Marsh,  198;  Meadow. 
195;  Mocking.  189;  Mouse. 
104;  Parkman.  194;  Olive- 
colored  Yellow-throated.  159; 
Prairie  Marsh,  198;  Reed,  197; 
Rock,  188;  Ruby-crowned,  221; 
Salt-water  Marsh,  197 ;  San 
Diego.  192;  Seattle,  192;  Short- 
billed  Marsh,  195;  Short-tailed. 
194;  Short-tailed  House,  192; 
Song,  19]  ;  Spruce.  194;  Stump. 
102;  Texas.  192;  Tule.  198; 
Vigor's.  192 ;  Western  House. 
194;  Western  Marsh.  198; 
Western  Winter,  195 ;  Winter, 
194;  Wood  (House  Wren), 
102;  (Winter  Wren),  194; 
Worthington's  Marsh,  198 

Wrens.  ///.   186 

Wren-tits,    ///.   218 


X,  Y,  Z 

Xanthoccphalus      xnnlhucrplialiis. 

II.  246 
Xantliouya     lu.vunsa     i/UuiCt-sccns, 

II.  224 
Xantus's  Jay.   //,   223 
.\riiia  sabini,  1.  53 
Xcnopitiis  alholarvalus.  II.  140 
Yakutat    Fox    Sparrow.    ///,    37 ; 

Song  Sparrow.  53 
Yarrup.   //.   163 
Yawker  Bird,   //,    163 
Yellow   Chat,   ///.    162;   Crake.  /, 

208;     Mockingbird.     ///,     162; 

Palm   Warbler,    150;   Poll,   126; 

Rail.  /.  208;  Red-poll.  ///.  149; 

Red-poll  Warbler.   149;  Tip-up, 

149;    Titmouse,    126;    Warbler, 

126 
Yellow-bellied  Flycatcher,  //.  206 ; 

Flycatcher,  Great  Crested.   196; 

Sapsucker.     150;     Woodpecker, 

150 
Vellow-biU  (Scoter).  /.  148 
Yellow-billed     Cuckoo.     //,     128; 

Loon.   /.    14;   Magpie.   //.   215; 

Tropic-bird,    /.   89 
Yellow-bird.   ///.    13 
Ycllowbird.   Summer.   ///.    127 
Yellow-breasted   Chat.   ///.    162 
Yellow-crowned   Night   Heron.   /. 

195  ;    Warbler     ( Chestnut-sided 

Warbler).     ///.     133;     (Myrtle 

Warbler).  128 
Yellow- footed  Booby.  /.  90 
Yellow-hammer.    //.    163 
Yellow-headed  Blackbird.  //.  246 ; 

Bush-Tit.   ///.   216 
Yellow-legged      Goose,      /.      158; 

Plover.  244 
Yellow-legs.  /.  244 ;  Bastard,  230  ; 

Common.     244 ;     Greater,     242 ; 

Lesser,  244 
Y'ellow-rump,  ///.  128 
Yellow-rumped  Warbler,  ///,  128: 

Western.       130;       Blue-headed, 

131 
Yellow-shafted    W^oodpecker.     //. 

163 
Yellow-shanks :     see     Yellow-legs 

and  Greater  Yellow-legs. 
Yellow-shins.   /.   242 
Yellow-tailed   Warbler,    ///.    167 
Yellow-throat.      Dominican.      ///. 

138;    Florida.     161;    Maryland. 

150;    Northern.    159;    Northern 

Maryland.     159;     Pacific.     161; 

Salt     Marsh.      161  ;      Southern. 
^161;   Western,    159,    161 
Yellow-throated       Creeper.       ///. 

138;  Greenlet.  105;  Yireo,   105; 
_  Warbler,  138 
Yellow-winged    Sparrow     ///.    26 
Yelper.    /.   242;   Little.   244 
Yucatan  Ocellated  Turkev.   //,  31 
Yukon  Chickadee,  ///.  2ri 
Zamclodia    ludoinciaiia.    III,    65 ; 

/?.    mctanoccphala.   68 
Zebra  Bird  or  Zebra-back.  //.  160 
Zcnaidura    macrnura    caroUncn.<:i.^. 

II.   46 
Zone-tailed  Hawk.   //.  75 
Zonotrichia  albicotlh,  III,  37;  Z. 

coypnata,     36;     Z.     Icucophrys 

oamhcU.    36;    Z.    I.    Irucophrvs, 

35;  Z.  !.  iiiittalli.  36:  Z.  qurnih. 

33 


AMNH   LIBRARY 


100102978